A fire outbreak at the Lagos Water Corporation, Onikan Waterworks, in the early hours of Thursday October 17, 2019, which disrupted water supply to the Onikan area of the State. In its preliminary investigation, the Corporation revealed that the fire started from the Waterworks Independent Power Plant (IPP) point and spread to the gatehouse, destroyed the underground cable and burnt the operational vehicle parked inside the waterworks.
As of press time on Thursday officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Team, Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were still battling the fire incident at the Water Corporation in Onikan roundabout, in Onikan area of Lagos Island, although the fire had been put under control and confined to a secluded portion of the complex.
It was gathered that the fire ignited from different places on the ground inside and outside the Water Corporation complex. It was also learnt that the fire was suspected to be as a result of an underground gas or petrol facility suspected to be a pipeline.
As of the time of filing in this report, no loss of life or injury was recorded.
LASEMA Public Affairs Officer, Nosa Okunbor, said the Agency and other responders were still battling an ongoing fire incident at Water Corporation, Onikan roundabout, in Onikan area of Lagos Island as of press time yesterday.
He explained that the Water Corporation fire outbreak, according to the Agency’s recovery efforts around 18:42pm on Thursday revealed that a link was established with Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) confirming that there is an unidentified gas pipeline passing through the area.
He noted that efforts are being made to turn off the gas supply pipeline, saying recovery operation was still ongoing.
He said the fire was confined to a secluded portion of the complex.
“The fire was reportedly discovered to have ignited from different places on the ground inside and outside the water corporation complex. We have not recorded any loss of lives during the operation, nor has injuries been sustained.
“The combined efforts of the Agency’s Response Team, alongside Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and LASTMA on ground have paid off in ensuring the situation is under control. Though the suspected source of the gas leakage is still unknown, but LASEMA’s efforts on behalf of other Emergency responders are yielding handsome results.
“The development is attributed to the fact that the confined fire which was burning like a pocket fire will be put out finally on arrival of the gas pipeline vendors. While awaiting arrival of the gas vendors to turn off the gas pipes at its main supply, blanketing and dampening are still ongoing at the recovery operation.
“Having successfully controlled and confined the fire with ongoing blanketing and awaiting the final shutdown of the gas supply at source, road traffic has been diverted. All roads inwards Onikan have been effectively cordoned off from Awolowo road to militate against any secondary incidents while the ongoing recovery operation lasts,” he said.
