...The fire was said to have erupted as the family prepared for the early evening (Magrib) prayers,
KADUNA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | A fire incident on Friday destroyed parts of the Palace of the Emir of Jama’a in Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources informed the News Agency of Nigeria that the affected section comprised apartments within the wing occupied by the Emir’s mother.
The fire was said to have erupted as the family prepared for the early evening (Magrib) prayers, sparking panic within the palace and nearby community.
When NAN visited the palace later that night, embers were still smouldering, with clear signs of extensive damage. Portions of the building were severely burnt, and several household belongings had been reduced to ashes.
Residents and sympathisers gathered at the palace to show support for the Emir and his family.
Eyewitnesses said officials of the Kaduna State Fire Service in Kafanchan responded to a distress call but could not immediately contain the fire, as their pumping machine allegedly failed to start on arrival.
This setback reportedly hindered initial firefighting efforts, enabling the blaze to spread and destroy four flats before reinforcements arrived.
Local volunteers also assisted in salvaging valuables and preventing the blaze from extending to other sections of the palace.
Although no casualties were recorded at the time of filing this report, the incident caused considerable damage.
The cause of the blaze remains unclear, and authorities have yet to release an official statement detailing the extent of the losses or the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
Residents of Kafanchan described the incident as unfortunate and called for improved emergency response services in the area.
