A fire outbreak in the early hours of Thursday destroyed a one-storey shopping complex and adjoining shops along Amore Street in the Ajegunle Boundary area of Lagos, resulting in the loss of goods worth millions of naira.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that the incident was reported at about 2:40 a.m. through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting the immediate activation of emergency response operations from its Cappa Base in Oshodi.
In a preliminary report signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, responders arrived at the scene around 3:22 a.m. to find the shopping complex engulfed in flames. The complex reportedly housed several clothing dealers.
According to the agency, the presence of a large volume of combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread and intensity of the fire, which also extended to nearby shops used for storing and selling clothes.
Preliminary findings indicated that the fire was triggered by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity supply. LASEMA, however, confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
“Upon arrival, the LASEMA Response Team conducted a risk assessment and cordoned off the affected area. Safety and precautionary measures were immediately activated to prevent damage to adjoining buildings and the surrounding environment,” the agency said.
It added that prompt intervention by the response team, in collaboration with other emergency responders, helped to prevent the fire from spreading further before it was eventually extinguished.
“The entire one-storey shopping complex and surrounding shops were completely razed by the fire. All goods and properties stored within were destroyed,” the statement noted, adding that parts of the structure had been compromised and would require immediate structural assessment.
Firefighting efforts successfully contained the blaze within the affected area, while damping-down operations were carried out to eliminate residual heat and prevent re-ignition. LASEMA said rescue and recovery operations have been concluded, though monitoring of the site will continue.
The agency urged business owners and property managers in the area to review their fire safety measures and storage practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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