A fire outbreak has destroyed six houses, shops and storage facilities at Kofar Wanbai Market in Kano State.

The incident occurred around 9:43pm on Friday at Babban Layi, Yan Robobi section of the market, the Kano State Fire Service said.

The agency’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday. According to the statement, the Fire Service received a distress call from one of its officers, Principal Fire Superintendent Usman Idris Fagge, before firefighters were deployed from its headquarters and stations at Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House and Bompai.

Abdullahi said the affected properties included Gidan Alhaji Sani, Gidan Sani Muhammad, Gidan Alhaji Kwa Kwa, Gidan Alhaji Shafi’u and Gidan Alhaji Sulaiman.

“Upon arrival, they discovered that approximately six houses, identified as Gidan Alhaji Sani, Gidan Sani Muhammad, Gidan Alhaji Kwa Kwa, Gidan Alhaji Shafi’u and Gidan Alhaji Sulaiman, were affected by the fire,” the statement said. The affected two-storey building, measuring approximately 120 by 125 feet, was being used as plastic shops and storage facilities.

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

It said the fire started on the upper floor before spreading to the lower levels, but firefighters were able to contain the blaze and prevent it from reaching other parts of the market.

“The cause of the fire was traced to a solar system,” Abdullahi said.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged traders and residents to take precautions against fire outbreaks. He advised them to install fire detectors and keep functional fire extinguishers in their homes and business premises, while complying with fire-safety regulations.