Lagos fires destroyed N13.24bn of property in nine months: what the report shows

Fires and other emergencies destroyed property worth an estimated N13.24 billion in Lagos State between January and September 2026, according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. Its third quarter activity report says firefighters saved a further N79.44 billion of property, which puts the total value affected at N92.68 billion. NNN calculates that about 86 per cent of the property at risk was saved.

The Service answered 1,324 emergency calls in the period: 1,135 fire calls, 100 salvage operations, 79 rescue calls, nine building collapses and one gas explosion. January was the busiest month with 203 incidents, and September the quietest with 94.

The report says 210 people were rescued alive and 65 suspected fatalities were recovered. The Service also logged 341 false emergency calls.

Controller-General Margaret Abimbola Adeseye urged residents to take fire prevention seriously as the dry season begins. She advised against indiscriminate burning and asked people to handle flammable materials safely, avoid overloading electrical sockets and keep firefighting equipment and emergency exits in working order.