The Lagos State Government has urged residents to adopt stricter fire-safety measures as the dry season approaches, following 1,324 emergency incidents across the state between January and September 2026.
The incidents included 1,135 fire calls, 79 rescue calls, 100 salvage operations, nine collapsed-building incidents and one gas-related explosion, according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
The figures were contained in the service’s Third Quarter Activity Report, released on Thursday by its Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria.
The Controller-General of the service, Margaret Adeseye, said the figures highlighted the need for sustained fire-safety awareness, prompt reporting of emergencies and compliance with safety regulations.
The report stated that 210 people were rescued alive during the period, while 65 suspected fatalities were recovered during emergency operations.
It also disclosed that the service received 341 false emergency calls, warning that such calls could ‘delay the response of firefighters to genuine emergencies and potentially put lives, property and environment at risk.’
The estimated value of property saved during emergency operations stood at ?79.44bn, while property losses were put at ?13.24bn. The total estimated value of properties affected was ?92.68bn.
January recorded the highest number of incidents at 203, followed by March with 201, while September had the lowest figure at 94.
March recorded the highest number of fire calls at 176, followed by January with 173. September recorded the lowest, with 80 fire calls.
Adeseye urged residents to exercise caution and observe basic fire-prevention measures during the dry season.
The service advised residents to ‘avoid indiscriminate burning, ensure proper handling and storage of flammable materials, and switch off and unplug electrical appliances when not in use.’
It also urged residents to ‘avoid overloading electrical sockets, maintain functional fire extinguishers and ensure that escape routes and access points were not obstructed.’
The controller-general encouraged residents to report fire incidents promptly and cooperate with emergency responders at incident scenes.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment through emergency response operations, fire-prevention campaigns, public education, enforcement of safety standards and engagement with communities.
It urged residents to take collective responsibility for fire prevention, stressing that ‘prevention remains the most effective way to reduce the devastating impact of fire emergencies.’