The National Fire Authority attended to a major fire incident that occurred off Dilo Street at Naulu, Nakasi around midday today.

The NFA Contact Centre was alerted of the house fire at 12.07 pm and the fire team from the Nakasi Fire Station responded immediately. Upon arrival at the scene at 12.10 pm, the fire team found a double-storey building on fire.   The top flat was occupied by the owner whilst the bottom flat contained a Bakery and a Shop.  The team quickly used one delivery of water from the fire truck with help from Valelevu and Suva Fire Stations, to extinguish the fire.

The firefighters fought very hard against the intensive fire and heavy flammable materials in the shop and bakery coupled with strong winds during the time of the fire incident.  The high content of flammable materials such as gas tanks and flammable stock in the shop and bakery contributed to the quick spread of the fire to two neighboring homes which were destroyed completely in the fire.

It is understood the fire had started from the bakery area of the building and the building was vacant at the time of the fire as the owner had left with his family earlier in the morning.

Of the two neighboring houses destroyed in the fire, one contained two flats which were occupied by the house owner and a tenant whist the second house was vacant at the time of the fire incident.   It is understood that a total of seventeen people have been left homeless after the incident.

The NFA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Puamau Sowane said all Fijians should be alert with their surroundings and immediately call the toll-free fire emergency number 910 if they see any suspicious smoke or fire before attempting to put it out.

“The fire team today responded immediately to the fire scene and it is understood a very late call was made to inform our call center that a fire had started,” he said.

“We urge all Fijians to be mindful of their surroundings and neighbors as fires can be a threat to anyone.  Luckily there were no injuries reported in the fire incident today although we sympathize with the families who have been severely affected by this fire incident”, he added.

“If you are thinking of leaving your home vacant, turn off all electrical appliances before you leave your home.  Turn off your TV set, water heaters, unplug the chord from the wall switch. If you notice that your circuit breaker continues to trip, please call a licensed Electrician to have it fixed,” he said.

The NFA will be carrying out its investigations into the fire incident to ascertain the cause of the fire incident today.

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