The National Fire Authority (NFA) will step up inspections of all schools around the country to ensure they are fire safety compliant.

It is also calling on the central Government and school authorities to seriously consider investing in their properties through insurance. 

The response from NFA Chief Executive Puamau Sowane comes in the wake of 2 recent school fires, one at Desbhandhu Vitogo School, Lautoka, last Saturday (12th October, 2024) and the other at Lomaivuna High School fire last Sunday (6^th October, 2024).

The duty crew at Lautoka Fire Station was alerted at 3.05am by attendants at the NFA Command Centre about a structural fire incident at Desbhandhu Vitogo School, located at Vitogo Paipai Road, Lautoka. (outside fire boundary).

The crew immediately responded with 2 trucks and 8 officers and arrived at the scene at 3.17am to find a school block fully engulfed in flames.

They immediately established 1 delivery of 1 length from their tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading. A standby truck provided support while another returned to the station before the firefighters managed to contain the fire.

Firefighters were hampered in their efforts by fire hydrants that were either without water or had low pressure.

By 7.30am, the firefighters completed the operation.

Desbhandhu Vitogo School has a total roll of 48 students and 5 teachers with committee school manager. The school block that was destroyed housed 4 classrooms, an office, a staff room and a computer room. It was a concrete structure with corrugated iron roof and aluminium doors.

The structure sustained 95% damage with the estimated cost damage set at $220,000. The items damaged in the fire cost $160,000, bringing the total estimated cost of damage to $380,000. 

Items damaged in the school office and staff room included photocopiers, laptops, projectors, computer sets, tablets, school stationery valued at $4000, office chairs and tables, air-conditioning units, staff room tables and chairs, refrigerators, gas stoves, cleaning agents and storage containers with groceries and lunch supplies for students.

Damaged in the classrooms were 32-inch television screens, ceiling fans, desks and chairs as well as steel cabinets containing teachers resources/aids and stationery.

The school was vacant at the time of the fire. 

An investigation will be carried out to determine the probable cause of fire. 

On the previous Sunday, the NFA Command Centre received a call from the Vunidawa Police Post at 1.05pm reporting a property fire at Lomaivuna High School.

The crew at Nakasi Fire Station responded immediately with 1 truck and 5 officers with support from the 20,000-litre tanker at Suva Fire Station and arrived at the scene at 1.50pm to find 4 classrooms on fire.

The crew established 1 delivery of 2 lengths from their tank supply and managed to extinguish the fire, with support from a Water Authority of Fiji tanker. 

Damaged in the fire were an office, staff room, a classroom, and a sick bay, with structural damage set at more than 90% and the estimated cost of damage set at $90,000.

“In light of the recent increase in school fires, including the significant Vatuwaqa Primary School (2022), RKS fires and QVS fire incidents, the NFA has intensified its efforts to mitigate fire risks in educational institutions,” Mr Sowane said.

“To address the broader issue, NFA has initiated discussions with the Permanent Secretary for Education and the Minister of Education regarding the inclusion of a Fire Safety Curriculum in early classes. The aim is to ensure that children are educated on fire safety from a young age, empowering them to respond appropriately in emergency situations.

“In terms of inspections, NFA has shifted its focus to high-risk schools, specifically those that provide boarding facilities, operate commercial kitchens, have heritage-listed or old classroom blocks, and are equipped with chemistry laboratories.

“We have already inspected 25 schools, including 12 major boarding schools in Viti Levu and Taveuni, each with student populations exceeding 500. These inspections were either requested by the schools or scheduled by NFA as part of our high-risk assessment strategy.

“NFA is committed to inspecting all primary and secondary schools across Fiji’s three divisions, prioritizing schools that are more vulnerable to fire risks. Our goal is to lower the incidence of school fires by ensuring compliance with fire safety standards.” 

Mr Sowane said NFA statistics showed that from January 2019 to 15th October, 2024, a total of 22 buildings in schools around the country sustained more than 90% damage.

“This included 11 classrooms and offices, 5 dormitory buildings, 6 teachers’ quarters and a tool shed. The cost of damage from these fires was in excess of $3.7million,” he said.

Mr. Sowane added that school managements and central Government should seriously consider investing in school properties through insurance.

“A lot of investment in education has been lost in the recent school fires,” he said.

“The Government’s investment in schools is enormous and fire safety is always questionable, particularly when school children are present in school buildings. Insurance is an avenue to secure that investment in buildings, office and school equipment, furniture, staff and students.

“Additionally, we are collaborating closely with building and Government architects to ensure that all government buildings, particularly schools, meet the minimum fire safety requirements as outlined in the National Building Code of Fiji. 

“We are also in the process of gathering data from the Ministry of Education regarding the ages of certain school blocks, which will help us tailor fire safety advice based on the specific risks associated with older structures.

“This initiative remains a top priority, and we will continue to provide updates as we progress towards completing the inspections and advancing fire safety education within schools.” 

-ENDS-