NO fewer than 18 lives and property worth N4 billion were lost in 859 fire incidents in Lagos State in the last three months, the Lagos State Fire Service disclosed yesterday in its quarterly review.
According to the fact sheet, the estimates were the highest ever recorded in a rainy season, just as the agency recorded 55 rescue calls within the same period, and five incidents of collapsed building.
While 36 persons were rescued in all, 18 died in the inferno. The report also showed that property valued at N60 billion were saved in the incidents.
The Director of Lagos Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, blamed the tragedies on human errors, especially as they occurred during the wet season when such disasters are less frequent.
Fadipe urged the public to know that “there is no small fire incident, because every outbreak is followed by destruction to property and are sometimes life-threatening.
“The public is hereby advised to be careful in handling electronic appliances, naked lights, gas cookers and any other flammable product”.
