A coordinated response involving multiple emergency agencies successfully brought under control a large-scale fire outbreak at a chemical warehouse along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos, preventing further damage to surrounding industrial facilities and residential areas.
The fire erupted on Saturday, 24 January 2026, at about 7:25 p.m., at Parco Enterprises Nigeria Limited, a facility used for chemical blending and storage within an industrial complex near SAPID. Due to the nature of the materials stored, the blaze escalated rapidly, spreading across an estimated 15,000 square metres and triggering intermittent explosions that lasted for several hours.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service spearheaded frontline firefighting operations, deploying multiple fire appliances and personnel to suppress the inferno from the facility’s main access point. Firefighters worked under hazardous conditions as volatile chemical substances intensified the flames and explosions.
Supporting the operation, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) deployed its Response Unit and Fire Services to provide tactical backup, while the Federal Fire Service reinforced suppression efforts to ensure sustained water application and control of the fire perimeter.
Private sector support also played a crucial role, with firefighting assets provided by Veepee supplementing public emergency resources. In addition, beverage company Lacasera supplied large volumes of water, which proved essential in maintaining continuous firefighting operations throughout the night.
Emergency responders adopted a multi-directional containment strategy, attacking the fire from both the front and rear of the facility to halt its spread to nearby warehouses storing fittings, doors and other flammable materials.
Following containment, damping-down operations commenced immediately, with emergency agencies maintaining a strong presence at the site to prevent re-ignition and secure adjoining facilities along the busy expressway.
Preliminary assessments by emergency officials identified several risk factors that worsened the incident, including the storage of large volumes of volatile chemicals in a confined space, inadequate ventilation and limited on-site fire safety measures. Investigations remain ongoing to establish the immediate cause of the outbreak.
Authorities commended the collaboration between state, federal and private emergency responders, noting that the joint effort was instrumental in averting a major industrial disaster in the Badagry corridor.