Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
September 18, 2015 – Not less than 23 vehicles and 38 generators were consumed by fire earlier today in Lagos when fire devastated a mechanic village situated near TISCO Plaza in Alausa CBD behind NUT Pavilion, Lagos.
The fire according to Director of Fire Lagos, Engr. Rasaq Fadipe started at 2 am adding that the fire also burnt 16 shops in the workshop.
When our correspondent arrived the scene, smokes of the burnt properties were still bellowing into sky with many wailing over destruction of properties.
“One of our colleagues bought a container of tokunbo tyres worth N300,000 but it is all gone with the fire”, one of the mechanics told our correspondent. “TISCO installed an expensive machine worth N10 million but it is gone with the fire”, an elderly mechanic told our reporter, adding that the level of devastation would have been minimized if most of the cars were removed by the owners as soon as work is completed on them.
“Some of the customers are reluctant when you tell them to come and collect their vehicles. Work has been completed on this one, the engine has been started but now the engine has been burnt again”, he said pointing to one of the cars partially affected.
A woman standing by could not console herself .“ I work here”, she said with tears welling up her cheeks.
Fadipe said that prompt deployment of men to the scene saved some of the vehicles, all would have been gone. An officer of the fire service attributed the fire to carelessness on the part of those using the workshop, adding that it was due to electrical fault.
Many of the mechanics and women selling wares gathered in number discussing the situation when our correspondent visited.
