Fire outbreaks and building collapses notch 1,072 emergency incidents
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Fire outbreaks and building collapses took the lives of 62 people across Lagos State between January and June 2025, according to the mid-year report released by the State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS).
A statement issued by LSFRS Senior Public Affairs Officer Maria Fadairo said the agency responded to a total 1,072 emergency incidents in the six-month period.
The incidents included
- 922 fire outbreaks
- two minor explosions
- 10 cases of building collapse, eight of them partial
- 73 rescue operations
- 65 salvage missions across the state
“Between January and June 2025, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service recorded significant activity in its emergency response efforts,” the statement said.
“Despite notable challenges, the Service remained committed to saving lives and protecting property.”
The report also highlighted persistent hoax calls, with the agency receiving 315 false emergency alerts causing a growing concern.
LSFRS rescued 252 people from life-threatening situations, including incidents involving structural failures and fire emergencies, but “a total of 62 fatalities were recorded during this period.”
It stressed that despite the loss of lives and property, its proactive efforts averted further devastation, with property valued at about N64.32 billion saved, though losses still amounted to about N10.72 billion.
The statement quoted LSFRS Director Margaret Adeseye as saying: “These figures demonstrate our agency’s effectiveness in contributing to the gross domestic product while minimising damage and safeguarding lives, the environment, and assets across Lagos State.”
She disclosed that the Fire Service is engaging with stakeholders to tackle rising fire incidents and building collapses.
“These efforts will be further strengthened during the upcoming Y2025 International Fire Safety Conference 2.0, where collaborative strategies for enhancing fire safety and emergency response will be further discussed.”
Gbola Aremu, Manager of Titan Clan Limited, a real estate firm, in 2023 attributed the surge in building collapses to greed and lack of technical expertise in the construction industry.
“The spate of building collapses can be traced to fundamental problems,” he told The PUNCH.
“People are going into the construction business and building houses without the requisite experience. There’s a big boom in the industry; everyone wants to be a real estate agent or developer, but the requirements, technical know-how, and attention to detail are lacking.
“People are driven by greed. They don’t conduct soil tests, fail to assess whether the area is waterlogged, ignore soil quality, and neglect drainage patterns.
“These are all critical in determining the strength and depth of a building’s foundation.”
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