A fire outbreak on Thursday, gutted a section of the Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital in Lagos State. The incident, confirmed by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Bamidele Mustapha, reportedly began around 3:30 p.m. on the second floor, originating in the nurses’ call room.
Dr. Mustapha recounted that he was in a meeting when the alarm was raised. “We all rushed out, and behold, it was a fire outbreak,” he said. Fortunately, recent fire drills and strategically placed extinguishers helped contain the flames initially, although staff were unable to fully extinguish the fire before emergency responders arrived.
According to the CMD, the Lagos State Fire Service responded within ten minutes and successfully extinguished the blaze. At the time of the incident, 110 patients—including newborns and their mothers—were in the facility. All patients and staff were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, Dr. Mustapha suggested it may have stemmed from an electrical spark. Despite the damage, the hospital’s core structure remains intact. “There’s no loss of life. Everybody, both my members of staff and all our patients, are safe and alive,” he confirmed.
The incident has left patients and staff visibly shaken, though grateful for the swift emergency response and the safety of all involved.