Fire guts shops, vehicles, classrooms in Kano

A fire outbreak has caused significant damage to a multi-business complex and a private school in the Rijiyar Zaki area of Kano State.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the incident occurred at about 1:53 p.m. on April 20, 2025.

He said the agency received a distress call from a resident, Hamza Muhammad, alerting them to the incident at Rijiyar Zaki Kwanar Yan Kifi.

“Firefighters from the agency’s headquarters, as well as the Rijiyar Zaki and Bompai fire stations, were quickly mobilised to the scene.

“On arrival, the fire crews found a single-storey building measuring approximately 100 by 50 feet engulfed in flames. The structure housed three shops at the front, with one reportedly used for gas sales. Two nearby vehicles were also affected by the blaze.”

He added that the fire began when gas cylinders were being offloaded from a J5 van with an unidentified registration number into the gas shop.

The fire rapidly spread to the adjacent Young Marshall Science Academy, a private school located nearby, destroying seven classrooms, an office, and two toilets.

In total, three shops, two vehicles, and seven classrooms were severely damaged, while another vehicle was slightly affected.

“By the grace of God and the swift response of our personnel, the fire was successfully contained to the affected sections, preventing further spread to nearby shops, classrooms, and one vehicle,” he said.