No fewer than twelve fire outbreaks were recorded in different parts of Lagos metropolis yesterday, destroying property worth millions of Naira.The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said an overnight fire incident destroyed 14 shops at 16 Odunbaku street in Mafoluku area of the state.

Fadipe added that another eight-room structure was razed by fire at 16 Moses Olawale street in Moshalasi bus stop area of Agbado.

As at the time of filling this report the fire service boss said “a shopping complex is on fire now at Oshodi market. We are in control. We got our first distress call today from Vegas Hilton hotel at Oke Ira, Ogba/Aguda and LSDPC Estate’s Glover street in Ebute Meta.”

“An outbreak of fire is on now at NEPA Office, Ajiwe bus stop in Lekki. It involves containers. We are in control of it too. This is making it a total of distress call of 12. Lagosians need to be fire conscious.”

To curb the tide of this menace, the Director said that the agency had been repositioned and transformed with provisions of new equipment to meet the challenges of the mega city.

He cautioned Lagosians who are fond of buying and storing petrol as a result of scarcity of the product to desist from the act and be fire safety conscious.

The fire boss said no fire outbreak is small or big in terms of the destruction and trauma victims experience during and after an outbreak.

He urged parents and guardians to warn their children against careless handling of electric appliances, naked wires and gas cookers among others, as all these are major sources of fire disasters.

Fadipe said that basic portable fire protection equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire alarm systems should be kept within reach in order to prevent the spread of fire should an outbreak occurred.

The fire boss who solicited for cooperation of management of petrol stations in the fight against fire disasters, urging them to adhere strictly to safety precautions by not dispensing fuel in polythene bags or selling to vehicles while in motion – thereby preventing a cluster of motorists around the dispensing pumps so as to avoid scuttles that could spark a fire.

Sunnewsonline……..

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