The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has disclosed that careless welding during the installation of a power generating set on the second floor of the Mandilas building in Lagos led to a fire outbreak on Sunday.
The 10-storey building on Broad Street, Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State caught earlier in the day.
The fire reportedly started from the first floor of the building and spread to the fourth floor.
The LSFRS Director, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that emergency responders from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations moved to the scene to curb further escalation and put the situation under control.
In a follow-up update, Adeseye disclosed that the collaborative efforts of emergency responders led to the containing of the fire from engulfing the whole building.
She said, “The collaborative efforts by emergency responders successfully contained the recent fire at Mandilas Building. Firefighting operations now focus on dampening down the remaining pockets of fire fueled by stored merchandise.
“The affected floors (2nd to 7th) were managed by state responders, including Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Lagos Ambulance Service, and others.
“The fire originated from careless welding during the installation of a generator on the second floor, intended to expand trading space”
She said while six people sustained minor injuries, there was no loss of life in the incident.
“Despite challenges with stacked goods and limited accessibility, responders curtailed the damage. The building, housing various businesses, experienced no fatalities; six members of the public incurred minor injuries, and were promptly treated on-scene.
“Conclusion of dampening down will precede a comprehensive damage assessment,” Adeseye concluded.