Two Men Rescued as Fire Engulfs Lagos Bungalow, Injuring One

A fire incident in Itire, Lagos, led to the rescue of two adult men after an eight-room bungalow was ravaged by flames. One of the men sustained burn injuries during an attempt to save an elderly resident from the inferno. The blaze, which erupted at 43 Onitire Road, near Smith Bus Stop, also extended to a three-bedroom flat on the upper level of an adjacent two-storey residential building.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday, October 13, through its Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria. The agency reported receiving the emergency call around 9:10 p.m., with firefighters arriving at the scene by 9:35 p.m. to commence rescue and firefighting operations.

According to the service, a 75-year-old man was successfully rescued from the bungalow. However, a 42-year-old man suffered burns while heroically trying to evacuate the elderly individual, who uses a wheelchair. Officials from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) promptly transported the injured man to Gbagada General Hospital for urgent medical care.

The statement further detailed that the bungalow and its contents suffered extensive damage from the fire. In contrast, the affected section of the two-storey building and its contents sustained only minor damage.

Regarding the cause, a preliminary assessment by the fire service suggests that an electrical surge resulting from negligence might have triggered the incident. The exact cause, however, remains subject to further investigation.

Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, used the opportunity to advise residents on preventing electrical fires. She urged the public to ensure proper maintenance of electrical installations, avoid overloading sockets, and engage qualified electricians for inspections and repairs of faulty systems. The agency also reminded citizens to report fire incidents using their toll-free emergency lines, 112 or 767, or the Lagos Fire hotline, 08033235891.