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

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

The agency’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Abdullahi, said firefighters were deployed from the service’s headquarters and stations at Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House and Bompai after receiving a distress call.

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

The affected two-storey building, measuring approximately 120 by 125 feet, was being used for plastic shops and storage facilities.

According to the Fire Service, two shops on the ground floor, two shops on the first floor, six stores and four temporary stores on the upper floor were affected.

The agency said the fire started on the upper floor before spreading to the lower levels, but firefighters successfully contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the market.

Abdullahi said the cause of the fire was traced to a solar system.

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, maintain functional fire extinguishers and comply with fire-safety regulations.