by ‘Jola Sotubo

The management of Protea Hotel Ikeja is counting its losses in the millions of Naira. The luxury hotel was gutted by fire yesterday evening after the generator supplying power to the facility exploded.

Witnesses said the fire started at about 5:00 pm from the back of the hotel where the generator was kept. A guest in the hotel who identified himself simply as Edward explained that the fire caused panic inside the hotel as people run for safety.

“I heard people shouting ‘Fire! Fire’ at the lobby and I saw thick smoke oozing out from a section of the building. Then, I knew there was problem. I had to run for safety like others,” he reportedly said.

The Director of Fire Service in the state Mr. Rasaq Fadipe informed Daily Trust that following an emergency call at 5:10 pm, “We responded immediately with two fire fighting trucks to avert loss of life and property.”

He said the loss would have been huge but for quick response to the scene which prevented the fire from spreading to other structures within and outside the premises.

Fadipe urged Lagosians to endeavour to report fire incidents promptly to the fire fighting agencies in the state. He said his office is ever ready to protect people’s live and property.