Lagos fire service rescues 210 victims as 1,324 incidents recorded in nine months

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service rescued 210 victims during emergency operations across the state between January and September 2026, as it recorded 1,324 incidents within the period. A statement by the agency said the figures were contained in the Service’s Third Quarter Activity Report released as the agency urged residents, businesses and institutions to strengthen fire-safety measures with the onset of the dry season. According to the report, fire calls accounted for 1,135 of the incidents, while the Service responded to 79 rescue calls, carried out 100 salvage operations, attended nine collapsed-building incidents and recorded one gas-related explosion. The agency also recovered 65 suspected fatalities during emergency operations within the nine-month period. The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, said the figures underscored the need for greater fire-safety awareness, prompt reporting of emergencies and compliance with safety regulations across the state. The report recorded 341 false emergency calls, which the Service warned could delay responses to genuine emergencies and put lives, property and the environment at risk. On property protection, the Service estimated that ₦79.44 billion worth of property was saved, while losses were put at ₦13.24 billion. The total estimated value of properties affected stood at ₦92.68 billion. “A monthly analysis of the report showed that January recorded the highest number of total incidents, with 203, followed by March with 201 incidents, while September recorded the lowest, with 94 incidents. In terms of fire calls, March recorded the highest number with 176, followed by January with 173, while September recorded the lowest with 80 fire calls,” the statement noted. With the dry season setting in, Adeseye urged residents to adopt basic fire-prevention measures, including avoiding indiscriminate burning, properly handling and storing flammable materials, and switching off and unplugging electrical appliances when not in use. She also advised residents against overloading electrical sockets, urged them to maintain functional fire extinguishers and keep escape routes and access points clear. Adeseye encouraged residents to report fire incidents promptly and cooperate with emergency responders at incident scenes. She reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment through prompt emergency response, fire prevention, public enlightenment, enforcement of fire-safety standards and continuous community engagement. The Service urged residents to treat fire safety as a shared responsibility, stressing that prevention remains the most effective way to reduce the impact of fire emergencies. Lagos fire service rescues 210 victims as 1,324 incidents recorded in nine months