Lagos Fire Service Logs Over 1,300 Emergency Calls, Urges Caution

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has disclosed that a total of 1,324 emergency incidents were attended to between January and September 2026, with fire outbreaks accounting for the majority at 1,135 calls. This information was released as the state government appealed to residents to enhance their fire prevention strategies, particularly with the onset of the dry season.

Details from the Third Quarter Activity Report, spanning January to September 2026, were made public by Fadairo Maria, the Senior Public Affairs Officer for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. The report, issued on Thursday, highlighted other incidents including 79 rescue operations, 100 salvage missions, nine building collapses, and one gas explosion.

Margaret Adeseye, the Controller-General of the service, emphasized that these statistics underscore a critical need for continuous public awareness regarding fire safety, prompt reporting of emergencies, and adherence to existing fire safety regulations across Lagos.

During the period under review, the service successfully rescued 210 individuals alive from various incidents, though it also recovered 65 suspected fatalities. A concerning aspect of the report was the 341 false emergency calls received. The service cautioned that such misleading calls could significantly impede firefighters' ability to respond swiftly to genuine emergencies, thereby jeopardizing lives, property, and the environment.

Financially, the report estimated that property worth ₦79.44 billion was successfully saved during emergency operations. Conversely, the estimated value of property lost due to these incidents amounted to ₦13.24 billion, bringing the total estimated value of affected properties to ₦92.68 billion.

A month-by-month analysis within the report revealed that January recorded the highest number of overall incidents with 203, closely followed by March with 201. September experienced the fewest incidents, totaling 94. Specifically for fire calls, March led with 176 incidents, while January followed with 173. September again saw the lowest number of fire calls at 80.

Controller-General Adeseye strongly advised residents to practice vigilance and adopt fundamental fire-prevention habits as the dry season commences. The service’s recommendations include avoiding uncontrolled burning, ensuring the safe handling and storage of combustible materials, and consistently unplugging electrical appliances when not in use or when leaving premises. Furthermore, they urged against overloading electrical sockets, stressed the importance of maintaining functional fire extinguishers, and ensuring that all escape routes and access points remain clear of obstructions.

Adeseye further called on the populace to report any fire incidents without delay and to cooperate fully with emergency response teams upon their arrival at incident sites.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterated its dedication to safeguarding lives, properties, and the environment through effective emergency response, proactive fire prevention campaigns, public education, rigorous enforcement of safety standards, and ongoing engagement with communities throughout Lagos State. The service reinforced the idea of collective responsibility in fire prevention, stating that “prevention remains the most effective way to reduce the devastating impact of fire emergencies.”