Following reports of an inferno at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, traders have blamed the owner of the affected building for the incessant fire outbreak, alleging that Sunday’s was the fifth incident.
According to eyewitness, the fire started from the plaza on 43, Martins Street, Lagos – the same plaza that was gutted by fire in 2020.
Though the cause of the fire outbreak could not be ascertained, It was gathered that reconstruction of the plaza after the last inferno was just recently concluded and traders moved on to display their wares before yesterday’s fire broke out.
Radiojagaban also gathered that the plaza had been engulfed by fire several times in the past which has left occupants confused.
Angered by the latest fire outbreak, traders threatened to stone the owner to death, accusing her of being responsible for their misfortune.
Earlier this year, the market was gutted by fire. Also in 2015, November 2019, 2020, and 2021, there were fire outbreaks in the same market with goods worth millions of naira destroyed in the process.
What authorities said concerning the Balogun Market Fire
Reacting to the inferno, the Lagos State Fire Service said the inferno was reported at 11:12pm, adding that the crew met the fire well alive at the fourth floor where it started from while already spreading to the fifth and sixth floors of the six storey building.
“The intensity of the fire requires the deployment of the Aerial Ladder Platform Fire Apparatus to extend the firefighting prowess to capture the highrise spread and curtail it from adjoining buildings, which aim was achieved as it was confined to house 43.
“The free burning textile materials content stored in defiant to Fire Safety Regulations is responsible to fuelling the intensity which has been curtailed. The preliminary cause of the fire is as a result of electrical upsurge.
“There was no injury nor casualty recorded as damping down of echelon of fire is ongoing and subsequent updates will be made available as situation demands,” said Director, Margaret Adeseye.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said the combined efforts of LASEMA firemen, officials of Lagos State fire service, men of the Federal Fire service, UBA and NPA fire fighters.
