A fire outbreak on Thursday caused panic at the Polaris Bank Tower located at 61/65 Broad Street, Lagos Island, as flames engulfed part of the multi-storey building and forced occupants to evacuate the premises.
The incident, which occurred at about 11:45 a.m., sent business operators and visitors scrambling for safety as thick smoke billowed from the building. Videos shared on social media captured dramatic scenes of the smoke rising from the structure, raising concerns among residents and passersby in the area.
Emergency responders, including personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
While the cause of the fire was initially unclear, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed that the inferno had been successfully extinguished.
Speaking 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 17-storey building, which also serves as a parking facility.
According to her, the emergency was reported at approximately 11:33 a.m., prompting a swift response from firefighters attached to the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations.
“Firefighters from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations promptly responded to the emergency and swiftly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles and sections of the building,” Adeseye stated.
She noted that the affected vehicle and its immediate surroundings sustained damage, while no casualties or injuries were recorded during the incident.
Authorities confirmed that firefighting operations were successfully concluded by 3 p.m., with normal activities restored in the area.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of rapid emergency response in densely populated commercial districts such as Lagos Island.
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