A tragic early-morning fire has claimed the lives of four members of the same family in the Kundila Layin Baba Impossible area of Tarauni Local Government Area, Kano State.

The incident occurred around 4:13 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi.

The fire was first reported by one of the service’s personnel, Abba Datti, who alerted the emergency team. Upon arrival, firefighters found the ground-floor residential building measuring about 40 by 30 feet completely engulfed in flames.

According to Abdullahi, the inferno destroyed two bedrooms, a parlour, a kitchen and a toilet.

Victims Trapped Inside

Five occupants were trapped in the burning house. Four of them the father, Shodandi (43); his wife, Rafi’a (30); and their two daughters, three-year-old Mardiya and one-and-a-half-year-old Yusira were burnt to death.

A 12-year-old boy, Aminu Shodandi, was rescued alive by firefighters.

Mosquito Coil Blamed

Preliminary findings by the fire service revealed that the fire was likely caused by a mosquito coil the family lit before going to bed.

The agency expressed condolences to the family and urged residents to exercise extreme caution with fire-related materials, especially during the harmattan season when risks of fire outbreaks increase.

Recent Fire Concerns in Kano

The tragedy comes days after a separate fire incident razed 29 shops and 19 stores at the popular Singer Market in Kano, raising fresh concerns about fire safety across the state.

Authorities have urged residents and business owners to adopt preventive measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents.