Fire destroys shops, stores at Kano market

A fire outbreak has destroyed several shops and stores at Kofar Wanbai Market in Kano State, affecting six buildings used for plastic trading and storage.

The Kano State Fire Service said the incident occurred at about 9:43 p.m. on Friday, September 4, at Babban Layi, Yan Robobi section of the market.

The Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, said its control room received a distress call from Principal Fire Superintendent Usman Idris Fagge, prompting an immediate response from firefighters.

“Firefighters from various fire stations immediately responded and rushed to the scene,” the statement said.

According to the Service, the affected buildings included Gidan Alhaji Sani, Gidan Sani Muhammad, Gidan Alhaji Kwa Kwa, Gidan Alhaji Shafi’u and Gidan Alhaji Sulaiman.

The fire affected two shops on the ground floor, two shops on the first floor, six stores and four temporary stores on the upper floor.

The Service said the fire started on the upper floor before spreading to the first and ground floors.

“Responding firefighters from the Service Headquarters, Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House and Bompai Fire Stations successfully contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the market,” the statement added.

The cause of the fire was traced to a solar power system.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged traders and residents to take preventive measures against fire outbreaks.

“We urge members of the public and traders to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks,” Anas said.

He also advised traders and residents to install fire detectors and keep functional fire extinguishers in their homes and business premises.

“Ensure that appropriate fire-safety measures are observed at all times,” he added.