Lagos Fire: Two men rescued as blaze destroys bungalow

Two adult men have been rescued from a fire that engulfed a residential building on Onitire Road, Itire, Lagos, with one of them sustaining burn injuries.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the incident occurred at 43 Onitire Road, near Smith Bus Stop, adding that the injured victim was taken to Gbagada General Hospital for treatment.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria, said the emergency call was received at about 9.10 p.m., while firefighters arrived at the scene at 9.35 p.m. and immediately began firefighting and rescue operations.

According to the statement, the fire affected an eight-room bungalow and spread to a three-bedroom flat on the upper floor of an adjoining two-storey residential building.

The bungalow and its contents were severely damaged, while the affected section of the adjoining building and its contents sustained minor damage.

The agency said firefighters rescued a 75-year-old man from the bungalow. The elderly man, who uses a wheelchair, was rescued alongside a 42-year-old man who sustained burns while attempting to save him.

The injured man was subsequently evacuated to Gbagada General Hospital by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for medical attention.

Firefighters from the Isolo, Sari and Bolade stations of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service participated in the operation, with support from the Federal Fire Service, Ojuelegba.

Other agencies at the scene included the Lagos Response Unit, LASAMBUS, the Nigeria Police Force from Itire Division and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

The fire service said the blaze was eventually brought under control.

It added that preliminary assessment suggested that negligence resulting in an electrical surge might have triggered the incident, although the exact cause was yet to be determined.

The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, urged residents to maintain their electrical installations properly, avoid overloading sockets and engage qualified electricians to inspect and repair faulty electrical systems.

She also advised residents to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and promptly report fire emergencies.

The agency said residents could contact emergency services through the toll-free numbers 112 and 767 or the Lagos Fire hotline, 08033235891.