A fire outbreak on Tuesday destroyed large parts of a two-storey building used by the The Apostolic Church in Lagos, forcing emergency officials to move quickly to stop the flames from spreading to nearby homes and shops.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that its response team was alerted through the state emergency numbers, 767 and 112, shortly after the incident began.
Early reports showed that the fire started from the back section of the upper floor of the church building before moving toward the front area. The situation caused fear among residents and traders around the community as smoke covered the environment.
The incident happened around 3 p.m., leading to a joint operation involving the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
When emergency workers got to the scene, the fire had already spread across major sections of the church building. Rescue teams then focused on stopping the flames from reaching nearby buildings in the crowded area.
Officials believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical problem linked to power supply at the time of the outbreak. Authorities are expected to carry out more investigations to confirm the exact cause.
Even though the fire caused heavy damage to the building, no death or injury was recorded during the incident. Emergency officials said quick evacuation and fast response from rescue workers helped prevent casualties.
People living and working around the area gathered outside as firefighters battled the flames. Thick smoke rising from the church compound attracted attention from many residents who watched the operation with fear.
Emergency responders also created barriers around the affected structure to stop the fire from extending to nearby properties. Some parts of the church were saved during the operation despite the damage already caused by the blaze.
After bringing the fire under control, rescue officials continued with cooling operations to stop hidden flames from starting another fire inside the building.
Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, praised residents for contacting emergency authorities quickly. He said the early warning helped prevent a more serious disaster in the area.
He also commended the cooperation between emergency agencies during the operation, saying the response showed improvement in Lagos State’s disaster management system.
According to him, the absence of casualties reflected continuous efforts by the government to strengthen emergency response, improve rescue equipment, and train personnel across the state.
Following the incident, the agency announced plans to work more closely with churches and other religious organisations in Lagos on electrical safety and fire prevention awareness.
Officials also disclosed that the Lagos State Safety Commission would assist with free electrical safety checks and emergency drills for religious centres and public buildings.
Residents were advised to use qualified electricians, avoid overloading electrical connections, and install protective electrical devices to reduce the risk of future fire outbreaks.
Authorities added that the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory would inspect the affected structure to determine whether the building remained safe after the fire incident.
The latest fire outbreak has again raised concerns about electrical safety in Lagos communities, especially in crowded areas where fire incidents can spread rapidly if emergency teams do not respond on time.
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