Fire Calls Dominate Lagos Emergency Response as Service Urges Dry-Season Precautions
Lagos emergency teams handled 1,324 incidents from January to September, with fires accounting for 1,135 of the recorded cases.
Fire incidents accounted for most of the emergencies handled by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service during the first nine months of 2026, prompting renewed safety guidance as the dry season approaches.
The service's Third Quarter Activity Report, issued by Senior Public Affairs Officer Fadairo Maria, recorded 1,324 emergency incidents between January and September. Of that total, 1,135 were fire-related calls. The remaining cases included 79 rescue operations, 100 salvage responses, nine incidents involving collapsed buildings and one gas-related explosion.
Emergency personnel rescued 210 people alive during operations covered by the report. The service also recovered 65 people described as suspected fatalities. Controller-General Margaret Adeseye said the figures reinforce the importance of fire prevention, early reporting and compliance with safety requirements across Lagos.
The report also highlighted the financial impact of the emergencies. Property estimated at N79.44bn was saved during response operations, while losses were placed at about N13.24bn. Altogether, properties valued at approximately N92.68bn were affected by incidents during the nine-month period.
False emergency reports remained another concern for the service. It recorded 341 false calls and warned that unnecessary alerts can occupy firefighters who may be needed at genuine emergencies. Officials said delays caused by such calls could increase risks to people, property and the environment.
January produced the highest overall incident count at 203, followed closely by March with 201. September had the fewest recorded emergencies at 94. Looking specifically at fires, March led with 176 calls, January followed with 173, while September recorded 80.
With drier weather approaching, the service advised residents to avoid uncontrolled burning and to handle combustible materials carefully. Households and businesses were also encouraged to disconnect unused electrical appliances, avoid placing excessive loads on sockets and keep functional fire extinguishers available.
Adeseye further advised residents to keep escape routes and emergency access points clear, report fires quickly and cooperate with responders at incident locations. The service said prevention, public awareness, enforcement of safety standards and community engagement would remain central to its efforts to protect lives and property across Lagos.