Wednesday, October 8, 2014

45 die, 80 survive in 1,158 fire disasters


45 die, 80 survive in 1,158 fire disasters
At least 1,158 fire accidents occurred in Lagos State between January and August 2014, killing 45 persons and destroying properties worth billions of naira. It was discovered that the Lagos State Fire Service saved properties worth N69.48 billion while about 80 people were rescued. According to a document showing monthly activities of the state fire agency, nine buildings collapsed within the period. In all the fire incidents recorded across the state, eight children between one and three years old died as a result severe burns.
In most cases, the kids were locked in the rooms, unknown to other residents or forgotten owing anxiety while they were scampering for safety.
According to the document, in January alone, 119 fire calls were received and responded to while 246 fire incidents were attended to in February and March. Properties worth N27.36 billion were salvaged in the first quarter of the year alone. Between April and June, 320 fire calls were responded to by the men of the state fire service. A total of 112 fire incidents were recorded in April alone. In May, 109 fire disasters occurred in different parts of the state while 99 fire incidents were contained in June by the state fire service personnel.
Twenty lives were lost while properties valued at N27.96 billion were saved during the period. In July, 2014, the state recorded 92 incidences of fire disaster while 71 fire cases were also responded to by the Lagos State Fire Service in August. A life was lost in July while 5 people lost their lives in August fire tragedies. Fadipe, however, said that the agency was able to withstand the kind of emergency calls rate due to the support and commitment of Governor Babatunde Fashola to the emergency agencies in the state.
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