Fire in Queen Elizabeth II Hall Successfully Extinguished

Mahbubat Kanyinsola Salahudeen

In the early hours of Thursday, December 5, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., residents of Queen Elizabeth II Hall were awakened by frantic cries to help an asthmatic student under attack, followed by cries of “fire, fire, fire” from Block B. The alarming situation immediately prompted students to rush to the scene, with many carrying buckets of water in a desperate attempt to contain the blaze.

Amidst the chaos, several students sought refuge at the porter’s lodge and outside the hostel for safety. Despite their best efforts, there was no sight of professional firefighters over 30 minutes into the incident, leaving students to handle the crisis independently.

By 1:56 a.m. approximately, assistance arrived in the form of men identified as residents of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, including the Students’ Union President, Aweda Bolaji. They brought fire extinguishers and were joined by Abefele personnel in their efforts to subdue the flames.

Following a series of efforts after that, with the firemen around now, the fire outbreak in Queen Elizabeth II Hall, Block B, was successfully extinguished. Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, some residents report that it originated from the Hall Warden’s office.

A resident of the affected block recounted her observations, stating, “I came to take my bath around 12 a.m., and all the appliances, including the air conditioner, fan, and bulb, were left on.” This account has raised questions about electrical safety practices within the hall. This augments the Hall Chairperson’s cries the day before for the students in the stated block to turn off their high-power equipments, as the power source (in her room) was making strange noises.

Authorities are expected to investigate further to establish the source of the fire and ensure preventive measures are implemented.