The National Fire Authority (NFA) is calling for building owners and business operators to safely secure their businesses and properties before leaving.

The call from NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane comes after firefighters from the Suva Fire Station took just over an hour to put out a massive industrial fire on Friday morning (11th October, 2024) at Raiwaqa, Suva. 

The National Fire Authority’s (NFA) Command Centre was alerted at 2.39am by officers at the Raiwaqa Police Station about a fire at Auto City Place, off Grantham Road, Raiwaqa.

The duty crew at Suva Fire Station responded immediately with two trucks, one of them a 20,000-litre tanker, and 8 officers and arrived at the scene at 2.49am to find a complex housing a spare parts shop, a kava shop and a restaurant fully engulfed in flames.

The Suva crew also received support from Valelevu Fire Station, which deployed 1 truck and 5 officers, and they established 2 deliveries of 2 lengths from their tank supply with a feeder line from a nearby hydrant.

By 3.49am the crews managed to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby shops and buildings.

The building, which also housed a lube bay, sustained 80% per cent structural damage, although the estimated cost of damage has yet to be determined.

Investigations are expected to start soon to find out the probable cause of fire.

NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane called on building owners and business operators to safely secure their businesses and properties before leaving.

“It was fortunate that it did not happen in the daytime when there would have been people at work. However, we urge business owners to practise fire safety and check that all unused power points and machines are switched off, secure windows and doors,” he said.

“These are all simple things that anyone can do, but they most certainly prevent unwanted fires and, by extension, massive property loss.

“As we approach the festive season, we urge members of the public to exercise care and caution and help prevent unwanted fires and property loss.”

 -ENDS-