Two Buildings Collapse, Five Razed as Fire Guts Balogun Market in Lagos

Two buildings collapsed on Wednesday, while five were razed at the popular Balogun Market on the Lagos Island, as fire gutted a section of the market, razing properties worth millions of naira.

Although no life was hurt, it was observed that one of the challenges the emergency responders faced was the intrusion of business owners who tried to access the burning buildings to save their wares.

Preliminary findings revealed that the fire was caused by poor storage of fuel in the four-storey building in front of Oluwole car park on Martins Street.

Combustibles like shoes and bags in the building, coupled with the wind, gave impetus to the flames and it quickly spread to six other plazas, burning everything in its path.

Initial efforts by emergency responders to put out the fire proved abortive as the inferno exacerbated, thus forcing them to jettison their first approach.

As the fire spread to the other buildings, the  emergency responders had to reevaluate the situation and they kicked off measures to prevent the fire from spreading rather than concentrate on putting it out completely.

While the fire fighters were still battling to contain the flames, two of the already burnt buildings caved in, which made personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to move in.

 

At about 1.19 p.m, the four-storey building located at no 35/37 where the fire started from, collapsed and at 1.21p.m., another structure, a five-storey building located next to it began burning.

Few minutes later, the flames had extended to  another structure, a 10-storey building. In all, seven buildings were affected by the fire.

As at the time of filing this report, the inferno was still raging and several traders who recorded huge loses were seen wailing over the destruction of their  goods.

Confirming the incident, Director-General, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke -Osanyintolu, disclosed that the inferno was caused by poor storage of fuel in the building.

He said: “On arrival at the above scene, it was discovered that a four-storey plaza had been gutted by fire.

“It escalated to adjoining buildings totaling seven in number and was contained by the emergency responders i.e  the Lagos State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service and NPA Fire Service.

“All responders are on ground and progress is being made. However no life was lost, as upon arrival, emergency responders combatted the inferno to salvage the situation.”

Emergency responders were  drawn from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Ports Authority Fire, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and the police.

Also on ground were the Commissioner for Special Duties and  lnter-Governmental Relations, Paul Bamgbose Martins; the acting Director of the state fire service, Mrs. Magaret Oluseye and the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who tried to keep the hoodlums in check.