Fire engulfs engineering section of Igbobi Hospital

Vanguard reports that he engineering section of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, was yesterday engulfed in an early morning fire that destroyed office appliances and equipment valued at millions of naira.

Although no life was lost, the source of the fire, which was reportedly first noticed around 3a.m., was not immediately known, but witnesses said the fire rapidly spread in the affected area, which was constructed with wood, Vanguard reports.

The section affected by the Igbobi fire. It took the intervention of Lagos State Fire Service to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

A source said: “The prompt response of the fire service personnel saved the day. But for them, things could have turned out worse because the Accident and Emergency department is very close to us.”

Head of the affected section, Mr. Simeon Uriah, however, claimed that the fire could be arson facilitated by disgruntled co-workers.

His words: “Somebody did this to me and escaped. It was an insider that set this place ablaze. I have been in this department for more than 30 years and nothing of such has ever happened.

“Immediately I assumed office as Head of the unit, some people have not been happy and they want my downfall. They have succeeded in their plan.”

Uriah, who is popularly known as Agbara of Igbobi, was in tears as he recounted that some vital documents sent to him by the hospital management were lost in the fire.

However, in his reaction, Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Olurotimi Odunubi, said the fire was as a result of a technical fault, saying he had instructed the Technical Department to look into the situation, Vanguard reports.

Odunubi said in anticipation of such eventuality, the hospital had regularly trained its staff about emergency situations and what to do in situations concerning fire and burns prevention.

He said: “It was part of our training that informed quick response from the fire service department, because we trained our staff on steps to take in case of any fire outbreak and we are glad that no casualty was recorded.”

Source: Vanguard