Get Guardian on GoogleThe Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has contained a fire outbreak at Akanimodo Market, Mile 12, Lagos, and cleared two broken-down trucks from separate locations in the state.
No casualties were recorded in the fire outbreak or either of the truck-related incidents, the agency said.
In a statement yesterday, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency’s Tiger Response Team from C3 was activated at about 2:14 p.m. following reports of the fire and arrived at the scene 16 minutes later.
He said the fire affected a section of shanties within the market, largely occupied by plastic recycling operators and also used as residential accommodation by some workers.
The structures, which were mainly built with combustible materials, including wooden planks, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, he added.
According to the agency, traders and other residents made initial efforts to contain the fire before the arrival of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
However, the responding fire truck initially experienced difficulty accessing the scene because of congestion and the limited accessibility of the affected area.
The firefighters eventually gained access and joined the operation, while LASEMA’s response team coordinated activities with other emergency responders.
About 90 per cent of the fire had been brought under control as of the time of the report, with emergency personnel continuing dampening-down operations to extinguish residual flames and prevent a recurrence.
The cause of the fire had yet to be established, while an assessment of the affected area and the extent of damage was ongoing.
In a separate incident, LASEMA’s Beta Response Team from Igando responded to a broken-down truck at Idimu, inward Egbeda, at about 12:32 a.m.
The truck, whose registration number was not immediately known, reportedly developed a mechanical fault involving its steering system, obstructing traffic in both directions.
The agency said its team, working with the police, successfully addressed the situation and moved the vehicle off the carriageway, restoring normal traffic flow.
Similarly, LASEMA’s Lion Squad from Agbowa responded to another broken-down truck at Odo-Ayandelu, inward Shagamu Road, Agbowa, at about 11:58 a.m.
The truck, with registration number OED-138XB and loaded with bags of cement, had developed a flat tyre.
With the assistance of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, emergency responders replaced the damaged tyre, enabling the vehicle to continue its journey.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged traders and residents to observe fire safety regulations, avoid storing combustible materials in residential spaces and ensure the proper handling of electrical installations.
