By HeapNews
A large industrial fire tore through a chemical warehouse operated by Parco Enterprises Nigeria Ltd. along the Alaba Suru axis of the Badagry Expressway on Tuesday night, triggering intermittent explosions and sparking panic in the surrounding community, emergency officials said.
The blaze broke out at about 7:25 p.m. at a warehouse and chemical blending and storage facility located within a densely packed industrial cluster, according to a preliminary situation report from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
Officials said the fire rapidly spread across an estimated 15,000 square metres, engulfing large volumes of stored chemical materials. The intensity of the flames led to periodic explosions that lasted several hours and posed a serious threat to nearby facilities.
Firefighters from multiple agencies, including LASEMA’s Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service and a private fire outfit, Veepee, battled the inferno in a coordinated operation. The fire was eventually contained, and damping-down operations are now underway to prevent reignition and protect adjoining buildings.
Lagos State Fire and Rescue led the attack from the main entrance of the facility, while LASEMA crews supported containment efforts from the rear, officials said. Beverage company Lacasera also assisted by supplying water to sustain firefighting operations.
Preliminary assessments by responders suggest the scale of the incident may have been worsened by the high volume of volatile chemicals stored in a confined space, inadequate ventilation within the warehouse and insufficient emergency preparedness measures.
No casualties were reported.
“Responders are still on ground to secure the area and prevent any further spread,” LASEMA said in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu.
Authorities said further investigations are ongoing to determine the immediate cause of the fire.