Kano, Kano State, Nigeria — A fire outbreak has destroyed three residential buildings in the Gaida area near Fatima Bread in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State in northern Nigeria.
Okay News reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at about 11:05 a.m. West African Time (WAT, GMT+1). The Kano State Fire Service, the government agency responsible for firefighting and emergency response in the state, confirmed the development in an official statement released on Wednesday.
According to the statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, the agency received a distress call from a resident, Aminu Bello, who alerted authorities to the fire.
Emergency responders were immediately deployed from the agency’s headquarters, along with additional teams from the Sharada and Rijiyar Zaki fire stations. On arrival at the scene, firefighters discovered that the blaze had started from an open space measuring about 50 by 50 feet that was being used as a site for an electrical transformer.
“On arrival, our personnel discovered that an open area measuring about 50 by 50 feet, used as an electrical transformer site, was engulfed in flames,” the statement said.
The fire quickly spread from the transformer location to nearby residential buildings, leading to extensive damage. The first affected building, a ground-floor structure measuring about 30 by 25 feet and containing one room, a living area, and a toilet, was completely destroyed.
The second building, a one-storey structure measuring about 30 by 30 feet, which included a bedroom, kitchen, and toilet facilities, also suffered severe damage, particularly on its upper floor.
The third structure, another ground-floor building measuring about 30 by 30 feet and consisting of two rooms and a toilet, was also razed by the fire.
Authorities later confirmed that the cause of the incident was traced to an electrical spark at the transformer site, highlighting ongoing concerns about infrastructure safety in residential areas.
The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged residents to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents. He said, “Members of the public are advised to avoid open flames in public and residential areas and ensure proper handling of electrical appliances to prevent such incidents.”
No casualties were reported as of the time of filing this report, although the destruction of homes is expected to affect several families and lead to financial losses.
The incident adds to a growing number of fire outbreaks recorded in Nigeria in recent days. In a separate case, a fire destroyed six shops and goods worth millions of naira at the Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State, also in Nigeria, after flames reportedly spread from nearby bush burning.
Authorities continue to advise residents across the country to prioritise fire safety and report emergencies promptly to reduce damage and prevent loss of life.
