Fire Breaks Out at Hotel in Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said its team managed to put out a fire at Purple Crown Hotel on Balogun Street, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Thankfully, there were no casualties.

Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the LASEMA Permanent Secretary, revealed in a statement on Saturday that the fire started around 9:52 am. It affected a room on the hotel's first floor.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency's Tiger Squad, along with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Nigeria Police, got to the scene within 10 minutes after the distress call.

"When we arrived, we found that a room on the first floor had been badly damaged by fire," he said.

He mentioned that initial findings suggested that "the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault within the affected room." The fire caused a lot of damage from flames and smoke in that part of the building.

Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed there were no injuries and all hotel guests and staff were safely moved to a designated area. "There was no loss of life and no injury recorded. All hotel guests and staff were safely evacuated from the building to the designated muster point," the statement added.

A roll call was done under the watch of the response team and police officers to ensure everyone was accounted for and safe. The fire was successfully controlled and completely put out, thanks to the teamwork of LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the police.

"The joint operation focused on containing the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby rooms, and ensuring the safety of both occupants and responders," Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

He said access to the whole building was restricted for safety reasons because of the smoke and fire damage. The part of the hotel that was affected remains off-limits until a thorough check on the structure and electrical systems by the relevant authorities.

"The situation is now fully under control. The fire has been put out and the immediate danger has been handled. Normal operations will only resume once we get the all-clear from safety officials."

The PS praised the emergency responders for their quick action and teamwork during the operation. He noted that their swift response "prevented escalation and protected lives and property."

He urged hotel managers, facility operators, and business owners to ensure regular electrical maintenance, have fire suppression equipment in place, and train staff on what to do in emergencies. "Following the Lagos State Safety Commission guidelines is very important," the statement said.

He also asked the public to remain calm and report emergencies quickly using the Lagos State emergency toll-free lines: 112, 767, or 08000 112 112.