By HeapNews
A late-night fire swept through a cluster of shanties at Banana Estate by Toffy Clinic Close in the Makoko area of Lagos, destroying homes and property but leaving no one injured, emergency officials said.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it received distress calls at about 10:15 p.m. on Friday through its 767 and 112 emergency lines and immediately activated the state’s emergency response plan from its Onipanu base.
By the time LASEMA’s response team arrived at the scene around 10:33 p.m., several makeshift structures were already engulfed in flames, the agency said in a preliminary report.
Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Fire Service joined LASEMA responders to contain the blaze, while police officers helped secure the area.
“The fire was successfully curtailed through the collaborative efforts of the response teams,” LASEMA said, adding that the entire shanty area was razed.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, though officials said it appeared to have started in one section of the settlement before spreading rapidly to neighbouring structures.
Emergency teams cordoned off the area, carried out risk assessments and worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. Dampening down operations were completed and the operation was later concluded, LASEMA said.
“There was no loss of life and no injuries were recorded,” the agency added.
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s permanent secretary, said the agency was coordinating with other responders to ensure the safety of the environment and affected residents as authorities assess the damage and next steps.