The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a Fire Marshal Club and launched a Safety Walk initiative aimed at strengthening community participation in fire prevention and emergency response across the state.

The event commenced with a safety walk from the service headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, through Ikeja Fire Station, and back to the headquarters through different routes. The exercise was designed to raise awareness of fire safety, emergency preparedness and promote proactive community engagement.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said that although fire and related incidents in Lagos State remain a concern, there had been a slight reduction in cases recorded between 2024 and 2025.

She noted that while fire outbreaks could not be completely eradicated due to various contributing factors, they could be reduced to the barest minimum through collective responsibility, strict adherence to safety regulations and enhanced community involvement.

According to her, the Fire Marshal system is a voluntary, community-based service recognised globally as an effective approach to fire prevention. She expressed confidence that the establishment of Fire Marshal Clubs across commercial centres, markets and communities in Lagos State would significantly improve emergency preparedness and response.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, Mr Femi Giwa, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in emergency management in line with the government’s vision.

He explained that once fully constituted and trained, members of the Fire Marshal Club would serve as critical links between their communities and emergency responders, particularly through the use of designated toll-free emergency lines to report fire incidents promptly.