Staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and other occupants yesterday jumped from a storey building while trying to escape a fire outbreak at a UBA branch on Lagos Island.

The fire occurred at Afriland Tower, a six-storey building on Broad Street, around 1:00 p.m. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) said it received a call at 1:38 p.m. and immediately dispatched fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations to the scene.

Evacuation of occupants was activated, while firefighters worked to calm the panic and contain the blaze. According to the Federal Fire Service team leader from Ebute Metta, Mr Ehimen Momoh, the fire started from an inverter battery in the basement and spread to a parked Toyota Sienna and a motorcycle, both of which were completely burnt. Other vehicles in the basement were, however, saved.

Momoh explained that thick smoke spread across the building, causing some victims on the upper floors to collapse after inhalation. “Between seven and eight victims were rushed to the hospital,” he said, adding that firemen quickly brought the situation under control using foam compound. Victims were rescued from the third and fifth floors. He advised against storing inverter batteries near generators or car parks and urged organisations to conduct regular evacuation drills.

In a statement, UBA clarified: “We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our many branches. As against reports online and social media, the affected building is not the UBA House, Marina, the Bank’s head office. We have ensured the safety and well-being of our staff and customers in the branch.”

The LSFRS later revealed that nine casualties were rescued from the building, five of whom were successfully resuscitated. It added that while several people escaped unhurt, efforts were ongoing to stabilise the remaining four.

Deputy Controller General of the LSFRS, Ogabi Olajide, confirmed that the fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement, while smoke engulfed multiple floors. He added that firefighting operations had since been concluded, restoring calm to the area.