Late Night Fire Razes 100 POWA Shops in Lagos

A late night fire which started on Sunday night and smoldered until yesterday morning, razed about 100 block of shops belonging to the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), in Ikeja, Lagos.

The incident which came at the heels of the three fire incidents that occurred at Ajah, Apapa and Ejigbo last week, has increased the number of such incidents in the state to 10 within two weeks.

Although no life was lost in the incident, 62 of the shops which are located on Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, were completely razed down while 38 others were said to be partially damaged.

According to eyewitness account, the fire which had started at about 10pm, emanated from a power generating set belonging to a restaurant located within the market.

The eyewitness said the fire was not noticed on time because of the hour it happened and also because people were at home and not in their shops.

A combined team of policemen and the state fire service from Alausa and Ikeja offices, were deployed to the area  but already the fire had destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Lagos Fire Service, Mr. Razaq Fadipe, said the fire was a serious outbreak that took concerted efforts before it was quenched.

He however said, only 48 shops were badly damaged while  38 were slightly affected by fire, adding that the damage was ameliorated because of the quick response of the emergency services. 

He said, "The incident happened in the barracks and the Alausa and Ikeja fire trucks responded promptly and saved the senior officers quarters."

Speaking on the recent incidences of fire in the state, the Public Relations Officer, South-west Zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said there was no need for sensitisation to prevent such.

He said, "Even though the rains still fall, we believe the residents of the state need to be sensitised to enable them prevent doing anything that will cause an outbreak of fire.

"Therefore, we appeal to authorities heading local governments and councils to enlighten the populace on avoidable fire incidents during this period. 

 "Community leaders should also be involved to educate particularly those living in peculiar environments, such as thatched dwellings in rural areas, to be cautious about the use of firewood or other smoldering objects and heating materials."