The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has said that properties valued at N44.82bn were saved from fire incidents between January and March 2024 in Lagos.

The agency’s Head of Public Education, Amodu Shakiri, disclosed this in an exclusive interview on Monday.

According to Shakiri, assets worth N15.06bn were saved in January, N17.1bn in February, and N12.66bn in March, amounting to a total estimated value of N44.82bn over the three-month period.

He further stated that 90 victims were rescued alive, while 17 victims were reported to be dead, adding that three buildings collapsed within the space of three months in Lagos.

Shakiru said, “Goods worth N15.06bn were saved in the Lagos fire in January; N17.1bn worth of goods were saved in February; and N12.66bn worth of goods were saved in March.

“Ninety victims were rescued in the Laguna fire, while 17 victims were suspected to be dead. One building collapsed in January, one in February, and one in March, which gives an estimate of three buildings collapsing within three months.”

He noted that the agency received 505 fire calls and 86 rescue calls within three months.

He said, “An estimated number of properties lost in January was N2.51bn, in February N2.85bn, and in March N2.11bn, which amounts to an estimated N7.47bn in three months.”

“In January, we had 186 fire calls and 26 rescue calls; in February, we had 186 fire calls and 28 rescue calls; in March, we had 133 fire calls and 32 rescue calls, totalling 505 fire calls and 86 rescue calls from January to March.”

He attributed four main causes to the state’s recurring fires, including acid, accidents, natural disasters, and negligence.

“There are four major causes of fire. One of them is acid. Another cause of fire is natural; the third cause of fire is an accident. When we say accident, it means one has complied with all fire safety rules, and nevertheless, there is a fire occurrence. All of these causes do not amount to 20 per cent of the causes of fire.

“The master of them all is carelessness, which amounts to 80 per cent of the cause of the fire. Naturally, heat and harmattan will not cause fire, but they can also help spread the fire.”

It had been reported that the Federal Fire Service Zone F said properties estimated at N1.5bn were saved from fire in the zone in August. Nine persons were rescued from other disasters, while properties estimated at N345m were reportedly lost and N1.2bn items were also saved.