An early morning fire broke out at the Itamaga Plank Market in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, causing significant damage to goods and properties.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received distress calls around 3 AM and promptly dispatched its emergency response team to the scene. Upon arrival at approximately 4:20 AM, the responders found one of the shops fully engulfed in flames.
After a thorough investigation, LASEMA determined that the fire was caused by a power surge. The prompt intervention and coordinated efforts of the LASEMA team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service helped contain and extinguish the fire.
"The fire consumed the shop, resulting in the partial loss of goods and properties at the incident scene," stated Nosa Okunbor, the Director of Public Affairs of LASEMA. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported.
As of the latest update, the fire has been completely extinguished, and emergency responders have secured the area. The agency has also provided guidance to market occupants on the proper use of electrical appliances to prevent future incidents.
This incident comes on the heels of a tragic fire outbreak at the Ladipo Plank Market in November 2023, which destroyed 351 shops and impacted approximately 1,000 vendors.
LASEMA urges all market operators to prioritize fire safety measures and exercise caution when using electrical appliances to avoid similar disasters in the future.