A solar battery explosion has been identified as the cause of the devastating inferno that gutted sections of Singer Market in Kano State, the Federal Fire Service has revealed.
The incident marks the second fire disaster at the same market in less than two weeks, with both blazes traced to identical causes.
The Federal Fire Service disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday morning.
A senior official of the service, who spoke on the edition of the show, described the recurring fires as “quite unfortunate and disturbing,” while expressing sympathy with affected traders.
“The incident in Singa Market is linked to an explosion from a solar battery. The one that also occurred two weeks ago was also linked to the same thing,” the official stated.
With solar power systems now gaining widespread adoption across Nigeria due to persistent electricity grid failures, the official warned that fire risks were escalating.
He identified two major safety hazards fuelling the surge in market and residential fires.
According to him, poor or loose connections in solar panel installations often cause overheating during sunny periods, triggering sparks in cables that ignite fires.
These flames, he explained, can spread from rooftop or outdoor panels into indoor spaces, particularly in poorly maintained environments.
He also cited faulty charge controllers as a critical danger, noting that when the device fails to regulate energy flow into batteries, overcharging occurs, culminating in explosions.
The fire service official emphasised that while fire outbreaks were unpredictable, most incidents could be prevented through proper installation, regular maintenance, and vigilance.
“This is what I want the good people of Kano as well as Nigeria to please take note of,” he said.
The latest inferno has caused massive property damage and inflicted heavy losses on traders in one of Kano’s busiest commercial districts.
Authorities have called for stricter safety protocols and comprehensive inspections of solar installations nationwide to avert further tragedies.
