Panic as fire guts building housing Polaris Bank on Lagos Island + Video

Panic erupted on Thursday when fire engulfed part of a multi-storey building housing Polaris Bank Tower at 61/65 Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State.

Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the building, forcing occupants and business operators to scamper to safety.

The incident reportedly occurred around 11:45 a.m., triggering a swift response from emergency services in the area.

Personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside other emergency responders, were deployed to the scene to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.

The cause of the fire was initially unknown at the time of reporting.

However, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed that the fire had been successfully extinguished.

According to the Director of the service, Margaret Adeseye, the fire originated on the third floor of the building, which also serves as a parking facility.

She said the incident was reported at about 11:33 a.m. and involved a stationary saloon car parked on the third floor of the 17-storey structure. “Firefighters from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations promptly responded to the emergency and swiftly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles and sections of the building,” she said.

Adeseye added that only the affected vehicle and its immediate surroundings were damaged, with no casualties or injuries recorded. As of 3 p.m., the firefighting operation had been concluded and normalcy restored to the area.