A tragic fire outbreak in Zamfara State has destroyed seven apartments, including the home of a firefighter and that of a bride just a day before her wedding ceremony.

 

The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. in a residential compound, sending shockwaves through the community as residents were jolted by distress calls from women crying for help.

 

Eyewitness Malam Dan Sokoto recounted that the fire originated from the apartment of an elderly woman in the compound, identified as Hajiya.

 

“When we rushed to rescue her, we saw flames rising from her ceiling. We poured water, but the fire only intensified, almost as if petrol had been added,” he told reporters.

 

Hajiya confirmed that the blaze began in her ceiling, though the exact cause remained unclear. “I heard a sound like an explosion above me before the fire erupted,” she said.

 

Residents quickly contacted the Zamfara State Fire Service, which reportedly arrived early. However, efforts to contain the inferno were delayed by technical faults in their fire trucks.

 

“The firefighters came promptly, but their trucks failed to function. They spent over an hour trying to fix them while the fire kept spreading,” said Sokoto.

 

Ironically, one of the destroyed apartments belonged to a staff member of the fire service.

 

Most heartbreaking, however, was the fate of the bride-to-be, who had just moved into her apartment in anticipation of her wedding the following day. Her belongings, recently arranged in preparation for married life, were reduced to ashes.

 

“She just moved everything in yesterday,” her elder brother said in tears. “Now everything is gone.”

 

Confirming the incident, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Fire Service, Bello Sani, acknowledged the damage and maintained that the fire team responded in a timely manner, though mechanical issues hindered their efforts.

 

The incident has drawn widespread sympathy and renewed concerns about emergency response infrastructure in the state.