The National Fire Authority (NFA) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Puamau Sowane is raising concerns on the number of residential fires that are occurring around the country.

In less than 12-hour period yesterday, the NFA attended to three residential fire incidents of which two were recorded in the Western Division and one in the Central Division.

Seeing the high number of residential fires recently, NFA CEO Mr. Sowane is concerned about the responsibility of people towards their homes and fire safety.

It’s a great concern for us that so many homes are going up in fire despite many reminders to all Fijians on fire safety,” he said.

People need to start taking responsibility of fire safety on their properties so that they are able to evade mishaps and unnecessary loss due to fire incidents.

In the first fire incident attended by NFA yesterday, a barrack containing 4 flats were destroyed at Nakasi Hart Barrack. The Nakasi Fire Station attended the fire incident after they saw smoke and responded to investigate any possible fire incident. Upon arrival at the scene at 4.23 pm, the fire team found the barrack fully engulfed in flames. The team quickly used one delivery of water from the fire truck to extinguish the fire with the support from Nausori and Valelevu Fire Station.

It is understood a total of 7 people occupied the three flats destroyed in the fire while the fourth flat was vacant.

In another fire incident, a one-bedroom house was destroyed in a fire incident at Waica Settlement in Nadi yesterday. At 12.13 p.m., the Nadi Fire station was alerted of the fire incident and the fire team responded immediately. Upon arrival at the scene, the fire team saw a corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames. The team quickly used one delivery of water from the fire truck to extinguish the fire and stop its spread to other houses just meters away.

It is understood the house was vacant at the time of the fire incident and the owner was away.

In another fire incident, 5 people have been left homeless after their six-bedroom house was destroyed at Varadoli in Ba. At 11.30 am, the Ba Fire station was alerted of the fire incident and the fire team responded immediately. Upon arrival at the scene, the fire team saw a corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames. The team quickly used one delivery of water from the fire truck to extinguish the fire. The house destroyed in the fire was located in the farm area on a hilly place.

According to statistics recorded by NFA, since January this year to date, a span of over four and half months, a total of 43 structural fire incidents were recorded of which 18 were recorded in the Central and Eastern Division, 17 in the Western Division and 8 in the Northern Division.

Fire impacts people, properties and the environment. Most incidents people lose all their belongings, or there is extensive damage to property and its contents.

CEO Sowane advises all Fijians to Act Now and make fire safety their priority.

We should be considerate about our families and our neighbours. Fire affects everyone and it is my humble plea to all Fijians to practice fire safety in homes, schools or when at work,” he said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The National Fire Authority urges all Fijians to 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, so that firefighters can respond in the quickest time possible.

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