Fire destroys 110 buildings and stalls at Kano's Kofar Ruwa timber market
- Kano State Fire Service says 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures burned at Kofar Ruwa Timber Market.
- The fire was reported at about 7:39 a.m. on Saturday by a timber dealer, Alhaji Abba.
- No deaths were reported, but the cause and the value of traders' losses are not yet known.
A fire has destroyed 110 buildings and structures at the Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in Kano, the state's Fire Service said on Saturday.
The service's spokesperson, PFS Kabiru Isah Jafaru, said in a statement that 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures were affected across different sections of the market.
He said the fire was reported at about 7:39 a.m. by a timber dealer, Alhaji Abba, and firefighters were sent from several stations across the Kano metropolis.
By the time they arrived, the flames had already spread to several parts of the market, he said. The firefighters later brought the fire under control and stopped it from reaching other sections.
No casualty was reported as of the time the statements were issued. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and the value of what traders lost had not been established.
Why it matters for traders
Timber trading is a livelihood for many families in Kano, and a market fire like this can wipe out a trader's stock and workspace in one morning. The service did not say whether any goods were saved or how many traders were affected.
Jafaru said the Executive Director of the service, Alhaji Sani Anas, praised the firefighters for their quick response. He also asked traders and business owners to stay alert to fire risks, especially during the harmattan season, when dry and windy weather makes fires spread faster.
What happens next
The Fire Service says its investigation into what started the blaze is continuing. Traders affected at Kofar Ruwa will be waiting on that finding, and on any support for those who lost buildings and stalls.
