Pandemonium as Fire Guts Polaris Bank Tower on Lagos Island, Forcing Emergency Evacuation ‎

Panic erupted on Thursday when fire gutted part of a multi-storey building housing Polaris Bank Tower on Broad Street, Lagos.

The fire which broke out in the wee hours of the day, sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky, triggering an emergency evacuation of occupants from the building.
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‎The incident occurred at about 11:33 a.m. at the 17-storey commercial complex located at 61/65 Broad Street, a major business district in the heart of Lagos Island.
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‎An eyewitnesses said workers and visitors hurried out of the building as smoke spread through parts of the structure filled, raising fears of a major disaster.
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Picture of the building

‎Emergency responders, including personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, were immediately deployed to the scene.

Firefighters from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations launched a rapid response operation that successfully brought the situation under control and prevented the blaze from spreading to other sections of the building and adjoining properties.
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‎Poviding an update on the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that the fire originated from a stationary saloon car parked on the third floor of the building, which is designated as a parking area.
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‎According to Adeseye, firefighters acted swiftly to contain the blaze, limiting damage to the affected vehicle and its immediate surroundings.
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‎“The fire was promptly curtailed and confined to the vehicle involved, preventing escalation to other vehicles and critical sections of the building,” Adeseye stated.
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‎The successful intervention helped avert what could have become a major fire incident in one of Lagos’ busiest commercial hubs.
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‎Authorities confirmed that no casualties or injuries were recorded, while investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the vehicle fire.
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‎The incident caused temporary disruption to business activities in the area as emergency operations continued, but normalcy gradually returned after the fire was extinguished.
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