A devastating fire outbreak engulfed the popular Farm Centre GSM Market in Kano on Friday afternoon, destroying 47 shops across both floors of a one-storey building. The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed that a battery explosion triggered the incident.
According to a statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the emergency control room received an alert at approximately 12:32 pm from Senior Fire Superintendent (SFS) Musa Ya'u, who reported the fire outbreak.
Swift Response from Fire Service
"The service, under the leadership of its Director, Alhaji Sani Anas, immediately mobilized firefighters from various stations across the Kano metropolitan area," the statement read.
The fire, which started on the ground floor, consumed 20 permanent shops and 13 temporary ones before spreading to the upper floor where it destroyed an additional 13 permanent shops and one temporary shop.
"By God's intervention and the effort of our men, we were able to contain the fire using five jets," the Fire Service spokesperson added.
No Casualties Reported
Despite the extensive damage to property, the Fire Service confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded during the incident. This comes as a relief considering the scale of the fire and the typically crowded nature of the market.
The Farm Centre GSM Market is one of Kano's busiest commercial hubs, specializing in mobile phones, accessories, and electronic gadgets. The financial impact of the fire is expected to be significant for affected traders.
The fire started from the ground floor of the building, burning 20 permanent shops and 13 temporary shops. It later spread to the upper floor where it destroyed another 13 shops and one temporary shop.
Safety Advisory Issued
In the aftermath of the incident, the Fire Service has urged shop owners and residents to exercise caution when handling batteries and electrical items to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The warning is particularly relevant for GSM markets where large quantities of electronic devices and batteries are stored.
This incident highlights the ongoing safety concerns in Nigerian markets, where fire outbreaks have become increasingly common due to electrical faults, improper storage of flammable materials, and inadequate safety measures.
Local authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine if there were any safety violations that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
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