By Emmanuel Daniji

Lagos State recorded 1,135 fire incidents between January and September 2026, as the government has urged residents to take extra precautions ahead of the dry season.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service disclosed that it handled 1,324 emergency incidents during the nine-month period. These included 79 rescue calls, 100 salvage operations, nine collapsed-building incidents and one gas-related explosion.

The figures were contained in the service’s Third Quarter Activity Report, released on Thursday by its Senior Public Affairs Officer, Fadairo Maria.

According to the report, 210 people were rescued alive during emergency operations, while 65 suspected fatalities were recovered.

The service also received 341 false emergency calls, which it warned could delay firefighters from reaching people in genuine emergencies and put lives and property at risk.

The Controller-General of the service, Margaret Adeseye, said the figures showed the need for continued public awareness, prompt reporting of emergencies and compliance with fire-safety regulations.

The report put the estimated value of property saved during emergency operations at ₦79.44 billion, while property losses were estimated at ₦13.24 billion. The total value of properties affected was put at ₦92.68 billion.

January recorded the highest number of emergency incidents, with 203 cases, followed by March with 201. September had the lowest number, with 94 incidents.

March recorded the highest number of fire calls at 176, followed by January with 173. September had the lowest number of fire calls, with 80.

Adeseye urged residents to avoid indiscriminate burning and ensure proper handling and storage of flammable materials. She also advised them to switch off and unplug electrical appliances when not in use and avoid overloading electrical sockets.

Residents were further advised to maintain functional fire extinguishers, keep escape routes clear and report fire incidents promptly.

The service called on members of the public to cooperate with emergency responders at incident scenes, reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment through emergency response, public education and enforcement of safety standards.

It stressed that prevention remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of fire emergencies.