Three killed, one injured in separate fire outbreaks in Kano

Three persons lost their lives while one other sustained injuries in two separate fire incidents recorded on Friday in Kano State, the Kano State Fire Service has confirmed.

The incidents were detailed in a Saturday statement issued by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi.

According to the statement, the first incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. at the Kura Market junction along the Zaria Road, when a petrol tanker carrying 30,000 litres of fuel fell and exploded. The tanker, with registration number NGZ 250 XA, was said to have knocked down a cyclist before bursting into flames.

The Emergency Response Unit was alerted through a distress call made by a retired Civil Defence officer, Danlami Muhammad, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters from the headquarters.

“On arrival, our men found the tanker fully engulfed in flames. Four people were affected; three were rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead, while the cyclist survived,” the statement read.

Firefighters, assisted by operatives of the police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), eventually contained the inferno. The remains of the victims were handed over to ASP Ahmad Lawan of the Kura Police Division. Two fire trucks—one from the headquarters and another from the Kura station—were deployed to the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

A second incident was reported at about 2:45 p.m. the same day, when fire gutted the upper floor of Hamisu Plaza along Maiduguri Road in Taruni Local Government Area.

Firemen arrived to find the top floor of the two-storey commercial complex already ablaze. Three shops were completely razed, while firefighters managed to stop the fire from spreading to other parts of the building, saving the first and ground floors.

A fire truck stationed at the ongoing trade fair was used to respond swiftly to the emergency. The cause of the fire outbreak is also being investigated.

The Director of the Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, appealed to the public to exercise greater caution in handling fire, particularly during the harmattan season. He further urged motorists to obey traffic rules to prevent avoidable accidents.

The state has witnessed several fire tragedies in recent weeks. Nine days ago, four members of a family were burnt to death in a dawn inferno at Kundila Layin Baba Impossible in Tarauni LGA. Earlier on November 11, 2025, at least 25 temporary shops and 19 stores were destroyed in a major fire at the popular Singer Market in Kano metropolis.