The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, has officially confirmed that a fire broke out at a sawmill, plank, and building material market in Igando, Lagos. The statement from Oke-Osanyintolu revealed that the fire, which erupted around 16:20hrs, was triggered by a high-tension cable.
Upon receiving a distress call through its toll-free emergency numbers, LASEMA promptly activated its response plans, dispatching the Igando zone and LASEMA Response Unit from the agency’s hub at Cappa Base. Upon arrival, the response teams discovered the sawmill market ablaze, with the fire reportedly initiated by a high-tension cable falling onto dry plywood.
The cable’s impact immediately ignited a fierce inferno that quickly spread throughout the market area. Investigations indicated that the high-tension cable, after cutting and dropping on the dry plywood, led to the rapid escalation of the fire. In response, the Distribution company was contacted, leading to the disconnection of public electricity power supply to the entire affected area.
To combat the fire and prevent further spread to nearby buildings, the LASEMA fire unit and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services engaged aggressively. While several shops were affected, the specific number remains unknown, and the damage to goods is estimated to be worth millions of naira. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, and efforts are underway to bring the inferno fully under control.
Despite the significant impact on the market and its occupants, the combined efforts of emergency response teams aim to curtail the damage and ensure the safety of the surrounding areas.
