Post Disaster Assessment :Ijesha fire affected 9 apartments, 12 shops

The quick appearance of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) first responders saved Lagos state from.recording death in the the fire that gutted a bungalow at Market Street off Ijesha, in Surulere, Lagos on Saturday which left 12 shops and nine apartments burnt.

The Director General, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who went for on the spot assessment made this known in an interview with journalists during his agency’s post-disaster evaluation on Sunday in Lagos.

Oke-Osanyintolu said that investigation revealed that the cause of the fire was a faulty cooking gas valve which exploded.

“The bungalow property comprised of nine rooms, including 12 shops was extensively damage.

“The agency worked alongside the Lagos State Fire Service to extinguish the fire and the operation was concluded in just under 2 hours on Saturday.

“The entire building has been destroyed and will require integrity testing by the Lagos State Building Control Agency LABSCA while the building has been cordoned off accordingly,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He, however, attributed the inferno to ucarelessness by one of the tenant’s who was cooking with licking cylinder which affected other people’s properties in the building.

The LASEMA boss, urged residents to keep off the scene as well as the he also advised members of the public to ensure that their gas cylinders were in good condition before use to avoid fire outbreak.

Some of the victims of the incident who spoke to newsmen pleaded with the Lagos State Government to assist them with shelter while the shop owners sought financial support from government.