A spate of four recent residential fires causing estimated damage of more than $150,000 has sparked a warning from the National Fire Authority on the need for homeowners and tenants to be extra cautious and adhere to fire safety awareness tips.

 

At 2.40pm on Saturday (27th July 2024), Rakiraki Fire Station received a call from Rakiraki Police Station reporting a structural fire incident at Balabala Village in the Tikina of Tokaimalo in the province of Ra, approximately 57km from Rakiraki Station (outside fire boundary).

 

The on-duty crew responded immediately with one truck and 5 duty officers and, upon arrival at the scene at 3.37pm, noticed that a five-bedroom wooden house was fully engulfed in flames.

 

They established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading and managed to extinguish the fire.

 

The property belonged to a 65-year-old and was occupied by her 40-year-old son, his wife and three children and was vacant at the time of the incident.

 

Initial on-site investigations showed that the fire started from the fireplace kitchen structure and then spread to the rest of the house.

 

The estimated cost of damage is $30,000 with damage sustained to the house set at 90%.

 

In the second incident, the NFA’s Command Centre received a call about a

property fire at Wai Settlement, Wailoku, at 4.11pm last Friday (26th July 2024).

 

The on-duty crew at Suva Fire Station responded with its first response truck, the 20,000-litre tanker truck and ambulance with 11 officers.

 

On arrival at the scene at 4.22pm the crew found a house fully engulfed in flames and quickly established 1 delivery of 8 lengths from tank supply to control the fire. By 4.48pm the fire had been extinguished.

 

A couple and their grandson were in the house at the time of the fire and managed to flee to safety, but the woman suffered burns while trying to drag her grandson out of the house. The family was transported to Nuffield Health Centre for observation.

 

Meanwhile, on the same day, Lautoka Fire Station received a call at 9.20am from the Western Police Command Centre reporting a structural fire incident at Vitogo, Lautoka (outside fire boundary).

 

The on-duty crew responded with two trucks and 9 officers and upon arrival at the scene at 9.28am, they noticed a three-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.

 

Brigade immediately established 1 delivery from tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading and managed to extinguish the fire by 9.52am.

 

The house belonged to an Australian resident but occupied by a 32-year-old man and was vacant at the time of the fire. A neighbour saw the house on fire and alerted her husband, who contacted Police.

 

The structure sustained 90% damage and estimated cost of damage has been set at $30,000.

 

In the fourth incident, on Thursday (25th July 2024), Nadi Fire Station received a call at 2.47pm from Sigatoka Fire Station reporting a structural fire incident at Tagitagi, (outside the fire boundary).

 

The station crew responded with one truck and four officers and arrived at the scene at 3.32pm to find a three-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.

 

Brigade immediately established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading and managed to extinguish the fire. The duty crew from Sigatoka Fire Station provided support.

 

The property belonged a 41-year-old salesperson and was vacant at the time of the incident.

 

The damage sustained by the house together with its contents was 100% and estimated cost of damage is $60,000.

 

Investigations is currently in progress to determine the probable cause of fire.

 

NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane reiterated a warning to homeowners and tenants to secure the house before leaving.

 

“These fires are easily avoidable. Members of the public need to check and secure their property whenever they leave for school, work, shopping, church or wherever they are travelling,” he said.

 

“Power points need to be switched off, electrical appliances need to be switched off and stored away, kerosene and gas stoves need to be turned off and gas cylinders closed, flammable items and materials need to be stored properly. All these needs to be done before leaving a house unoccupied.

 

“We are asking members of the public to be mindful of these things because they could mean the difference in saving your hard-earned investment.

 

“We also urge members of the public to call our toll-free 910 number in case of fire or any other emergency.”

 

-ENDS-