Man suffers burn injuries while rescuing wheelchair-bound grandpa from Lagos fire

A 42-year-old man sustained burn injuries during a daring rescue of a 75-year-old wheelchair-bound elderly man from a fire outbreak in Lagos State.

The Senior Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Fadairo Maria, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, confirmed the incident which occurred at 43 Onitire Road, Smith Bus Stop, Itire. 

According to the service, the fire incident involved an eight-room bungalow which extended to a three-bedroom flat on the upper floor of an adjoining two-storey residential building.

The statement said the emergency call was received at approximately 9:10 p.m., while firefighters arrived at 9:35 p.m. and immediately commenced firefighting and rescue operations.

She said the bungalow and its contents were severely damaged, while the affected section of the two-storey building sustained minor damage. 

Firefighters rescued the 75-year-old wheelchair-ridden man alive from the bungalow. 

The statement further disclosed that the man who sustained burn injuries in his earlier bid to rescue the elderly man was also rescued and transported to Gbagada General Hospital by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for medical attention.

"The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has successfully contained a fire outbreak at 43 Onitire Road, Smith Bus Stop, Itire, Lagos, rescuing two adult males, one of whom sustained burn injuries,” the statement read.

"The emergency call was received at approximately 9:10 p.m., while firefighters arrived at the scene at 9:35 p.m. and immediately commenced firefighting operations alongside the rescue.

"The fire involved an eight-room bungalow and extended to a three-bedroom flat on the upper floor of an adjoining two-storey residential building. The bungalow and its contents were severely damaged by the fire, while the affected section of the two-storey building and its contents sustained minor damage.

"During the operation, firefighters rescued a 75-year-old man alive from the bungalow. A 42-year-old man, who sustained burn injuries in his earlier bid to rescue the wheelchair-ridden elderly man, was also rescued and transported to Gbagada General Hospital by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for medical attention.

"The firefighting operations were carried out by personnel from Isolo, Sari and Bolade fire stations of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, with support from the Federal Fire Service, Ojuelegba. 

"The Lagos Response Unit (LRU), LASAMBUS, the Nigeria Police Force from Itire Division and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were also in attendance.

"The fire was successfully brought under control. Preliminary assessment suggests that negligence resulting in an electrical surge may have caused the incident; however, the exact cause remains subject to further determination.

"The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, urges residents to ensure that electrical installations are properly maintained, avoid overloading electrical sockets, and engage qualified electricians to inspect and repair faulty electrical systems.

“Residents are also advised to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and promptly report fire emergencies through the agency's toll-free emergency lines, 112 or 767, or the Lagos Fire hotline, 08033235891.”