Two men have been rescued from a fire that destroyed an eight-room bungalow on Onitire Road, Itire, Lagos, with one of them sustaining burn injuries.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the incident occurred at 43 Onitire Road, near Smith Bus Stop, on Monday night.
In a statement on Tuesday, the agency’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria, said the service received an emergency call at about 9.10 p.m. and arrived at the scene at 9.35 p.m., commencing firefighting and rescue operations immediately.
According to the agency, the fire affected the bungalow and spread to a three-bedroom flat on the upper floor of an adjoining two-storey residential building.
The bungalow and its contents were severely damaged, while the affected section of the adjoining building sustained minor damage.
The agency said firefighters rescued a 75-year-old wheelchair user and a 42-year-old man who sustained burns while attempting to save the elderly man.
The injured man was evacuated to Gbagada General Hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service for medical treatment.
Firefighters from the Isolo, Sari and Bolade stations participated in the operation, supported by the Federal Fire Service, Ojuelegba. Other agencies at the scene included the Lagos Response Unit, the Nigeria Police Force, Itire Division, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and LASAMBUS.
The fire service said the blaze was eventually brought under control.
It added that preliminary findings suggested that negligence leading to an electrical surge might have caused the incident, although the exact cause had yet to be established.
The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, urged residents to maintain their electrical installations, avoid overloading sockets and engage qualified electricians to inspect and repair faulty wiring.
She also advised residents to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and report fire emergencies promptly.
Residents can contact emergency services through the toll-free numbers 112 and 767 or the Lagos Fire Service hotline, 08033235891.