INVESTIGATIONS ON RESIDENTIAL FIRES FINALISED

 

Investigations are being finalised in a spate of five residential fires from the past week, including one on Sunday (14th June 2024) at the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) compound at Naidovi, just over 11 kilometres from Sigatoka Town.

 

At 2.13am Sigatoka Fire Station received an alert from the Police Command Centre reporting the structural fire incident.

 

The on-duty crew responded immediately with one truck and four officers and arrived at the scene at 2.24am to find a two-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.

 

The crew immediately established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from tank supply and managed to extinguish the fire.

 

The house belongs to local tour company Eco Trax and was vacant at the time of the fire as the couple occupying it were away at a family function.

 

The damage to the structure is 95% and the estimated value is $25,000.

 

There were four residential fires in the preceding week.

 

 

 

SNAPSHOT OF RECENT HOME FIRES (09/07/2024-10/07/2024)
DATE	LOCATION	TIME CALL RECEIVED	TIME OF ARRIVAL	DAMAGE (%)	ESTIMATED COST OF DAMAGE	CAUSE OF FIRE	NUMBER OF HOME OCCUPANTS
09-07-2024	Gaji Road, Samabula, Suva (inside fire boundary)	10.32am	10.42am	Not available. Report being finalised.	Not available. Report being finalised.	Not available. Report being finalised.	6 adults, 2 children.
09-07-2024	Burenitu Village, Nalawa, Ra	9.04pm	9.55pm	95%	$25,000	Not available. Report being finalised.	4 people
10-07-2024	Burelevu Village, Saivou, Ra (outside fire boundary)	3.39am	4.50am	100%	$30,000	Not available. Report being finalised.	5 people
10-07-2024	Uciwai Sangam School, Nadi	12.02pm	12.16pm	100%	$50,000	Not available. Report being finalised.	6 people

 

 

 

Meanwhile, NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane has reiterated a warning to homeowners and tenants to secure their properties.

 

“Of the five recent fires from the past week, two homes were vacant at the time of the incident. We are urging homeowners and occupants to ensure everything is in order when leaving their homes for work or to attend functions. Most fires are avoidable if members of the public practise fire safety awareness,” he said.

 

“In one fire, the home occupants lit a candle because electricity supply was down because of a power cut and the fire is suspected to have been caused by the lit candle. We urge homeowners and occupants not to leave lit candles and cooking unattended because anything can happen in the blink of an eye. People just need to be vigilant about such things.

 

“One fire is suspected to be caused by an electrical fault from an overloading of electrical appliances used. We urge members of the public to be aware of their power usage and not to overload their power points.

 

“Given that electrical remain the highest causes of structural fires in Fiji, it is important to have a licensed electrician to check the whole electrical wiring in your homes, if it was wired more than 20 years ago.

 

“Over the years the electrical wires insulation capability could have lowered due to aging factors. Electrical wire insulation deteriorates over time. Most electrical wire insulation design life expectancy are between 20 to 30 years.

 

“We also urge members of the public to call our toll-free 910 line in case of fire or any other emergency to allow our people to respond in a timely manner.”

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