LAGOS — A major fire broke out late Thursday night at the Berger Trailer Park popularly known as Berger Suya Park along the Olodi-Apapa corridor of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, razing trailers, containerised stalls and piles of disused tyres in a devastating blaze that disrupted commerce and sparked emergency operations across the busy transport hub.
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the first distress call was received at about 8:15 p.m., and responders from the Ajegunle, Sari-Iganmu and Alausa Headquarters fire stations were on the scene by 8:30 p.m. to battle the inferno that engulfed the expansive trailer park and surrounding structures.
Firefighters were still engaged in containment efforts at press time, deploying water and specialised equipment to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent businesses and parked vehicles. The scene drew a multi-agency emergency response as personnel from LASTMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Nigeria Police Force assisted with crowd control and traffic management, as the blaze severely affected movement along one of Lagos’ busiest freight and commuter arteries.
Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Margaret Adeseye confirmed the incident in a statement, saying fire crews were working exhaustively to bring the situation under full control, and that a preliminary investigation suggests negligence might have triggered the inferno though she emphasised that a full inquiry has been launched to determine the exact cause.
The park — a well-known nexus for long-haul trailers, spare-parts traders and tyre dealers has long been a strategic commercial node along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, feeding into the Apapa seaport and linking Lagos with other commercial centres. Its informal structures including containerised kiosks and open-air trailer stands often house goods worth millions of naira, raising concerns about potential economic losses from the fire.
Eyewitnesses said thick plumes of smoke and towering flames at the height of the blaze forced motorists to divert into side streets and slowed traffic for hours, as residents, traders and passersby watched emergency responders battle the blaze deep into the night.
Fire incidents are not uncommon along this stretch of Lagos’ transport corridors, where high volumes of heavy vehicles and informal market activities create a complex safety environment. Authorities continue to urge traders and drivers to observe fire-safety precautions, particularly in high-risk zones where spares, tyres and fuel-related products are stored.
Further updates are expected as investigations unfold and emergency teams report on the full extent of damage, any casualties and measures to restore normal traffic flow along the affected section of the expressway.