National Fire Authority (NFA) is pleading to the public and business owners to take responsibility for fire safety as the third commercial fire was recorded in Nadi yesterday in just a span of 7 days.

NFA CEO, Mr. Puamau Sowane said: “It is alarming to see so many fires occurring just in a matter of a few days. Despite many reminders, people are still not taking fire safety seriously and it is our request to you all out there to please adhere to fire safety in and around your homes and businesses”.

The Nadi Fire Station received a call about a fire at Imaam’s Transfers and Tours at 6.49pm yesterday.

Upon arrival at the scene, the fire crew saw the garage of Imaam’s Transfers and Tours on fire. The crew quickly established deliveries of water to stop its spread to other parts of the building.

The fire crew managed to save the owner’s triple storey residential building and a fuel tank located beside the garage.  However, destroyed in the fire were two coaster seater buses, one 15-seater mini bus, 7 cars, assorted spare parts and tyres. Despite the heavy fire loading at the site, the fire crew managed to stop the fire from further spreading to the other neighboring properties.

Three fire trucks and 10 fire officers responded to the fire incident last night to fight the fire.

NFA CEO says that investigations into the cause of this fire is currently underway as NFA Investigators work with the Police to establish the probable cause of this fire incident.

In another fire incident yesterday morning, fourteen people lost their home after a fire destroyed their two flat family house in Vuqele, Tavua.

Tavua Fire Station attended to the fire incident immediately after they were alerted of the fire at 7.43 am.

Upon arrival at the scene, the fire team saw the two flats well involved in flames.

The Fire team quickly used one delivery of water from the fire truck to extinguish the fire.

The two flats were adjoining and altogether had 19 bedrooms. The house was situated on a hilly place and the windy conditions at the time of the fire contributed to the fast spread of the fire.

However, the fire team fought hard and managed to save the adjoining house with its two bedrooms and they saved another house which was situated about 2 to 3 meters away.

NFA CEO also acknowledges the assistance of the Vatukoula Gold Mine Firefighters and nearby stakeholders who assisted with their fire tankers in supplying water to our fire machine which helped a lot in the quick fire extinguishment.

Fortunately, there were no casualties as people inside the house managed to escape to safety.

NFA CEO said that investigations have been completed and the probable cause of the fire is electrical related.  Sadly, this fire has robbed the families of the comfort and security of their homes together with their belongings.

NFA CEO Puamau Sowane is urging all members of the public to take extra heed of fire safety and prevention measures and ensure that your properties are fire-safe. 

He is urging everyone to take extra precautions and ensure fire safety measures are observed in and around their homes to avoid such unnecessary loss to property and the displacement of families.

“We should never be complacent with Fire Safety; we can prevent fires from destroying our homes and properties and even lives by taking extra precautionary measures to ensure fire safety”, Mr Sowane said.

We deeply sympathize with the families who have lost their belongings and we urge the public to learn from this sad experience.  Together, we can prevent unnecessary fire destruction, CEO Sowane said.