Between January and June 2023, the Lagos State Fire Service has reported a total of 1,642 fire incidents in the state, resulting in the loss of 42 lives and the destruction of properties worth N14.62 billion.

The mid-year activity report from the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, highlighted that fire disasters were the most prevalent, accounting for 924 incidents across various areas of the state.

The report also indicated that 177 individuals were successfully rescued during emergencies, while 92 cases involved rescue operations, 41 involved salvaging, three were related to explosions, and two were attributed to building collapses.

The fire service received 400 false distress calls. Adeseye emphasized that the estimated value of saved properties amounted to approximately N87.72 billion, underscoring the significant financial impact of the fires.

Investigations revealed that the primary causes of these incidents were carelessness and negligence, while the increase in false calls was attributed to a change in response strategies.