By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has revealed the cause of the early morning fire that occurred at the Balogun Market on Lagos Island on Wednesday.
General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Femi Osanyintolu, said yesterday that after a preliminary investigation by the response agency, it was discovered that the unfortunate incident was caused electricity generating set.
According to him, the fire began when a trader at the market was trying to refuel the generating set while still operational and a spill from the highly inflammable liquid content ignited the inferno, which destroyed properties at the busy market.
He said though no human casualty was recorded in the incident, the fire outbreak that occurred two months ago on the same street was caused by the similar reason.
LASEMA also confirmed to that seven buildings were affected by the fire yesterday, out of which two collapsed.
Business Post had earlier this morning reported that the fire outbreak started from the Anambra Plaza, Martins area of the market.
On Tuesday, a fire outbreak occurred at the popular Sabo market in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, destroying over 100 shops. The fire also destroyed goods and valuables worth several millions of naira.
Last week in Lagos, a similar inferno razed a timber market in the Mushin area of Lagos.
Also, some buildings inside Balogun market were in November gutted by fire and eventually demolished after intervention by Lagos State government.
LASEMA has said that there will be preventive measures to avoid further occurence of this trend in market places.
Aduragbemi Omiyale