Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to strengthen fire-prevention measures as the dry season approaches, following the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service’s record of 1,324 emergency incidents between January and September 2026, including 1,135 fire calls.
The figures were contained in the service’s Third Quarter Activity Report covering the nine-month period, issued on Thursday by its Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria.
Beyond the fire incidents, the report documented 79 rescue calls, 100 salvage operations, nine building collapses and one gas-related explosion, highlighting the range of emergencies handled by firefighters across the state.
The report also disclosed that 210 people were rescued alive during the period, while 65 suspected fatalities were recovered during emergency operations.
The Controller-General of the service, Margaret Adeseye, said the statistics reinforced the need for sustained public awareness, prompt reporting of emergencies and strict compliance with fire-safety regulations.
A monthly breakdown showed that January recorded the highest number of emergencies, with 203 incidents, followed by March with 201. September had the lowest monthly figure, with 94 incidents.
March also recorded the highest number of fire calls at 176, followed by January with 173, while September had the lowest, with 80 fire calls.
The report further identified 341 false emergency calls, warning that such actions could divert resources and delay responses to genuine incidents, putting lives, property and the environment at risk.
On the financial impact of emergencies, the service estimated that property worth ₦79.44bn was saved during the period, while losses amounted to ₦13.24bn. The total estimated value of property affected by the incidents stood at ₦92.68bn.
As part of its dry-season safety advisory, the service urged residents to avoid indiscriminate burning and ensure the safe handling and storage of flammable materials. It also advised households to switch off and unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
Residents were further cautioned against overloading electrical sockets and encouraged to maintain functional fire extinguishers while keeping escape routes and access points clear.
Adeseye also urged members of the public to report fires immediately and cooperate with emergency responders at incident scenes to facilitate rescue and firefighting operations.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment through emergency response, fire-safety enforcement, public education and community engagement.
It stressed that residents must play an active role in preventing fire outbreaks, noting that “prevention remains the most effective way to reduce the devastating impact of fire emergencies.”
