A fire that swept through a mechanic workshop in Isheri-Idimu, Lagos, affected 21 exotic vehicles and came dangerously close to a neighbouring petrol station before emergency responders contained the blaze, preventing a potentially devastating incident.
The fire broke out at about 3.05am on Friday along Oladunni Street, beside Eternal Filling Station, in the Alimosho Local Government Area. The workshop housed several vehicles when the flames erupted, placing the nearby petroleum facility and surrounding buildings at risk.
The proximity of the two facilities was particularly concerning because a fire spreading to a petrol station could trigger a much larger emergency, with serious consequences for motorists, workers, residents and businesses in the vicinity.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said its Dolphin Response Team, stationed at Igando, was activated immediately after receiving a distress call.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, credited the successful containment to a coordinated operation involving LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.
“Through the prompt, professional and coordinated intervention of the LASEMA Response Team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, the inferno was prevented from spreading to the filling station and surrounding structures, thereby averting what could have been a major disaster,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that the fire had been completely extinguished and damping-down operations concluded. The process involves cooling affected areas and checking for hot spots that could reignite the flames.
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A preliminary assessment showed that about 21 exotic vehicles were affected, while a section of a nearby building sustained minor damage. No deaths or injuries were recorded.
Although the emergency teams prevented the fire from reaching the petrol station, the incident raises questions about fire safety in commercial areas where mechanic workshops operate close to petroleum facilities.
Workshops commonly store engine oil, lubricants, fuel and other combustible materials. These substances can intensify a fire, particularly when stored carelessly or handled near ignition sources. Closely parked vehicles can also make firefighting more difficult and increase the potential for property losses.
The financial damage from Friday’s incident is yet to be established. LASEMA did not disclose the estimated value of the affected vehicles or identify the cause of the outbreak.
The agency called on workshop operators to prioritise safety precautions, especially in facilities where inflammable materials are handled. It also reminded residents to report emergencies through Lagos State’s toll-free lines, 767 and 112.
While the absence of casualties offers some relief, the destruction of 21 vehicles represents a substantial property loss. The more serious danger, however, was the possibility of the flames reaching the adjoining filling station, an outcome emergency responders managed to prevent.
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