Panic gripped residents of Somolu on Wednesday night after an electric spark from a two-story building in Bashua lane area, Morrocco Road nearly ignited a major fire outbreak. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 p.m., caused chaos as neighbours rushed out of their homes in fear of an impending inferno.
According to eyewitnesses, the electric spark was sudden and intense, accompanied by a loud crackling sound and flashes of light from the upper floor of the building. Occupants of the building and nearby structures screamed for help while some quickly evacuated children and valuables.
“It was terrifying,” said Mrs. Oluyinka Oluokun, a resident of the area. “The light went off and came back on with a loud bang. The next thing we saw was smoke and a bright spark from the second floor. We thought the whole building would go up in flames.”
Prompt response from vigilant residents, who quickly turned off the main power source and alerted the Lagos State Fire Service, helped prevent what could have been a tragic fire disaster. By the time emergency responders arrived, the situation had been brought under control.
Officials from the Lagos State Fire Service, who later assessed the building, confirmed there were no casualties or serious damage to the structure. However, they advised the residents to carry out a thorough inspection of their electrical systems to avoid future occurrences.
Community leaders in Somolu have since praised the swift actions of residents and emergency responders.
Speaking on the incident, Hon. Wahab Ajani, a local community development official, urged landlords and tenants alike to ensure regular maintenance of electrical installations and to report any electrical faults promptly to the appropriate authorities.
“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “We were lucky this time, but not everyone may be so fortunate. We must remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring safety in our homes and communities.”
As at the time of filing this report, officials of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) have been contacted to investigate the cause of the spark and restore stable power to the affected building.
The residents of the Bashua lane area continue to express gratitude that the incident did not escalate, and have called on the local government to assist with the replacement of damaged electrical components and support for affected families.
