Chemical materials stored at an industrial facility have been identified as the cause of a major fire that destroyed Parco Enterprises Nigeria Limited along the Alaba Suru axis of the Badagry Expressway in Lagos, according to emergency officials.
The blaze broke out at about 19:25 local time on Saturday at a warehouse used for chemical blending and storage, located within a large industrial cluster.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the fire spread rapidly across an area of approximately 15,000 square metres, fuelled by stored chemical substances.
“The affected facility is a warehouse and chemical blending and storage site,” the agency said. “The intensity of the incident led to intermittent explosions for several hours.”
LASEMA said the explosions triggered panic in the area and posed a serious risk to neighbouring facilities and nearby residents.
Firefighters from multiple agencies were deployed to the scene, including LASEMA’s Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, and a private firefighting team from Veepee. The fire was eventually brought under control following what officials described as a coordinated response.
Emergency teams have since begun damping-down operations, while personnel remain on site to prevent re-ignition and protect surrounding properties.
According to LASEMA, firefighting efforts were carried out from both the front and rear access points of the facility, with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service leading operations at the main entrance and LASEMA providing support from the rear.
The agency also acknowledged assistance from beverage company Lacasera, which supplied water to sustain firefighting operations.
Preliminary assessments by emergency responders pointed to several factors that may have worsened the fire, including the storage of large quantities of volatile chemicals in a confined space, poor ventilation within the warehouse, and limited emergency preparedness.
LASEMA said investigations were continuing to establish the immediate cause of the fire.
