The National Fire Authority (NFA)_ has expressed its concerns after a spate of 6 residential fires in 5 days, with the latest being yesterday afternoon in which two houses were completely destroyed.

At 3.58pm yesterday, the NFA Command Centre were alerted by the duty crew at Lami Fire Station about a house on fire at Kalekana Settlement, Lami.                                                                                  

The crew arrived at the scene at 4.01pm to find 2 houses fully engulfed in flames and immediately established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from their tank supply. 

The 20,000-litre tanker and an ambulance from Suva Fire Station provided support. By 4.39pm the crew had extinguished the flames. 

The first house belonged to a 45-year-old taxi driver, who occupied it with his wife. The house sustained 100% damage and the cost of damage is estimated at $90,000.

The second house belonged to a 61-year-old man and his wife and was vacant at the time of the fire. It sustained 95% damage with the cost of damage estimated at $40,000.

On Wednesday (18th September, 2024), Lautoka Fire Station received a call from the NFA Command Centre in Suva reporting a structural fire incident at Tomuka (inside fire boundary).

The duty crew immediately responded with 2 trucks and 9 officers and they arrived at the scene at 4.34am to find a two-bedrooms concrete, timber and corrugated iron house fully engulfed in flames.

They established a delivery of 3 lengths from tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading and managed to extinguish the fire.

The house belongs to a 43-year-old man but has been vacant for a while and, according to neighbours, has become a popular drinking spot.

It had no approved building plan and sustained 100% structural damage with the cost of damage estimated at $22,000.

On Monday, (16th September, 2024), Sigatoka Fire Station were alerted at 3.29pm by the NFA Command Centre about a structural fire incident at Laselase (inside fire boundary) and responded immediately with 1 truck and 4 officers

Upon arrival at the scene at 3.32pm, the crew noticed a three-bedroom concrete and timber house fully engulfed in flames and immediately established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from their tank supply and another delivery of 1 length feeding from a nearby hydrant to stop the fire from spreading further and managed to extinguish the fire.

The 74-year-old homeowner and his daughter were in the house during the incident.

The house sustained almost 100% structural damage with the cost estimated at $50,000.

There were two other fires on Monday (15th September, 2024), one at Naidiridiri Settlement, Wainibuku, Nasinu, in which 16 people were displaced, and another at Voivoi, Legalega, Nadi, which was vacant at the time of the fire.

The sixth fire occurred on Sunday (14th September, 2024), at Vatudova Road, Labasa, in which a family of 6 people were displaced.

Investigations are being carried out to determine the probable cause of fires.

NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane said there had been 10 residential fires so far this month, compared to 15 for the same period last year.

“Up until 19th September last year, residential fires caused more than a $1millon worth of damage, while this year it is estimated at a little more than $350,000,” he said. “In the same period last year 66 people were displaced by fire, but so far this month the figure is 57.

“It is a concern that people continue to lose their homes and belongings through fires. We urge members of the public to practise fire safety and prevention to reduce losses to fires.

“The other concern is that despite our awareness campaigns via community, house-to-house and school visits being stepped up a comparison of fires last year and this year shows that the month-to-month fire trend this year is rising. For January to September last year there were 120 residential fires, but so far this year there have been 149.

“We’re concerned that fires continue to occur and homes and lives continue to be lost.”

“We call for vigilance when it comes to fire safety.”

-ENDS-