Fire Guts Balogun Market in Lagos, Destroys Goods

Fire Guts Balogun Market in Lagos, Destroys Goods

Save Our Nation SON

October 9, 2022

Inferno on Sunday morning gutted goods worth several millions at Balogun Market, Lagos Island.

The fire, which started around 11am, was said to have occurred shortly after a church service dismissed at a house located on the topmost floor of the structure.

The inferno it was learnt, started from the plaza on 43, Martins Street, the same plaza that was gutted by fire in 2020.

It was gathered that reconstruction of the plaza after the last inferno was just recently concluded and traders moved on to display their wares before yesterday’s fire broke out.

Newsmen gathered that that plaza had been engulfed by fire several times in the past which has left occupants confused.

Angered by the latest fire outbreak, traders threatened to stone the owner to death, accusing her of being responsible for their misfortune.

The traders blamed the owner for the incessant fire outbreak, alleging that Sunday’s was the fifth incident.

Reacting to the inferno, the Lagos State Fire Service said the inferno was reported at 11:12pm, adding that the crew met the fire well alive at the fourth floor where it started from while already spreading to the fifth and sixth floors of the six storey building.

“The intensity of the fire requires the deployment of the Aerial Ladder Platform Fire Apparatus to extend the firefighting prowess to capture the highrise spread and curtail it from adjoining buildings, which aim was achieved as it was confined to house 43.

“The free burning textile materials content stored in defiant to Fire Safety Regulations is responsible to fuelling the intensity which has been curtailed. The preliminary cause of the fire is as a result of electrical upsurge.

“There was no injury nor casualty recorded as damping down of echelon of fire is ongoing and subsequent updates will be made available as situation demands,” said Director, Margaret Adeseye.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said the combined efforts of LASEMA firemen, officials of Lagos State fire service, men of the Federal Fire service, UBA and NPA fire fighters.