A fire outbreak has severely damaged sections of a storey building housing the Ago Medical Centre, located off Ago Palace Way in Okota, Lagos. The incident, which occurred on Friday evening, was triggered by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity supply.
LASEMA Confirms Fire Incident
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the fire outbreak in a statement on Saturday. The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the raging fire.
Emergency Response and Cause of Fire
According to Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA activated the state’s emergency response plan after receiving distress calls on its 767/112 Emergency Toll-Free Lines at 18:29 hrs on Friday. The agency’s Eagle Response Team arrived at the scene by 18:50 hrs and discovered that sections of the hospital building were already engulfed in flames.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge, which led to a spark when electricity was restored. The responders worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures.
No Casualties Reported
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that no lives were lost, and no injuries were recorded during the incident. However, he noted that efforts were still ongoing to completely extinguish the fire and conclude the recovery operations.
Collaborative Efforts of Emergency Responders
Several emergency agencies were involved in containing the inferno. These included the LASEMA Response Team, LASEMA Fire Unit, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Neighbourhood and Security Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force. Their coordinated response helped mitigate the extent of the damage and ensured the safety of residents in the area.
Conclusion
The fire incident at Ago Medical Centre highlights the persistent risks associated with electrical surges in Lagos, particularly in areas with unstable power supply. While no casualties were reported, the destruction of sections of a medical facility underlines the need for improved electrical safety measures. Authorities are expected to conduct further assessments to prevent future occurrences and ensure adequate fire prevention strategies are in place.
