By Evelyn Usman

One person was, yesterday, feared dead and three others injured when Fine Coat Limited, a paint manufacturing company located in Alagbado area of Lagos, went up in flames.

As at 6.30pm, a combined team of fire servicemen drafted from Lagos and Ogun states were still battling to put out the raging fire.

The fire, which started at about 3.15pm, reportedly began from the top floor of the high-rise building, which housed the production section. But its exact cause could not be immediately ascertained.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that it was proving difficult to put out the fire, because of huge balls of fire sparked by chemicals stored in the production section.

Another eyewitness, who gave his name as Chinwendu, disclosed that while the fire was raging, a man was rushed out of the affected building, motionless.

According to Chinwendu, “it was obvious he was affected by the thick smoke. He was rushed into an ambulance and whisked away. Three other persons were also brought out unconscious states, but they sustained minor injuries.

“They were also taken inside a waiting ambulance where they were attended to.”

Contacted at about 6.40pm,the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, confirmed that the fire was still raging.

He said: “We cannot state its cause yet, because the fire is still raging. Five fire trucks are on ground battling to contain the situation. The affected section is the warehouse, where they store raw materials and finished products.”