The Kano State Fire Service says over 100 stalls were destroyed in an inferno at the Dakata Small-scale Industrial Complex, popularly known as Kwalmar Fatima Market, in Kano.
The Director of the service, Alhaji Sani Anas, disclosed this in a statement signed by the service, Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, on Friday in Kano.
Anas said, “We received a distress call from one Mr Joseph, that there is a raging fire at the complex located in Dakata area of the state.
“Upon receiving the report, we immediately sent fire-fighters from the Headquarters, Dakata Fire Station and Rijiyar Zaki Fire Station to the scene.”
Anas said that the complex was divided into four sections as plots A, B, C and D, comprising of about 506 stalls.
“Out of the total number of stalls, about 100 stalls were completely destroyed by the fire.
“The estimated financial loss from the incident was between N700 million and N800 million,” he said.
Anas further explained that preliminary information from the complex secretary indicated that the fire was allegedly caused by children who lit fire in an open place to keep warm.
He said the fire was successfully brought under control through prompt intervention of fire-fighters, who deployed four fire engines to contain the inferno and prevent its further spread.
Anas advised the public to take necessary precautions against fire outbreaks while they should avoid open flames in public places and industrial areas.
(NAN)
