16 people were displaced after three home fires in the past four days

16 people were displaced after three home fires in the past four days

By Mosese Raqio
Monday 29/04/2024
Photo:File

At least 16 people have been displaced after three home fires in the past four days.

National Fire Authority Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane says despite the NFA’s efforts to conduct awareness in various modes – community, house-to-house and schools as well as the Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, they note that fires are still happening at an alarming rate.

Sowane says public support is needed and cautioned members of the public to maintain fire safety precautions to stop the occurrence of fires in their homes.

He says this includes simple things such as the safe storage of flammable materials within homes, ensuring that stoves are switched or turned off before leaving the kitchen and placing mosquito coils on non-flammable materials or surfaces.

The NFA says the Lautoka Fire Station received a running call reporting a structural fire incident at the Government quarters at Dravuni Street, Lautoka on early Saturday morning and the on-duty crew responded immediately with two trucks and six officers.

On arrival at the scene at 2.02am, the crew noticed a duplex-type Government quarters fully engulfed in flames.

The quarters sustained 75% damage with the estimated cost of damage to the property and its contents valued at $80,000.

The adjoining flat was occupied by another MOIT employee, his wife, mother-in-law and daughter and sustained 4% damage with an estimated cost of $10,000.

They say in the second incident, Sigatoka Fire Station received a running call at 7.45am on Thursday, reporting a structural fire incident at Olosara, opposite the Kidney Hub.

The on-duty crew responded immediately with two trucks and six officers with an ambulance and on arrival at the scene at 7.51am noticed a four-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house well engulfed in flames.

Damage to the property was estimated at 95%, but no estimated cost could be determined.

In the third incident, the NFA Command Centre received a call at 1.45pm on Thursday, reporting a property fire at Avon Place, Raiwaqa.

The on-duty crew at Suva Fire Station responded immediately with a truck and 5 crew members and a 20,000-litre tanker with a 3-men crew and arrived at the scene at 1.57pm to find a 4-bedroom corrugated iron home well involved in flames.

The house was occupied by a man, his wife and his son and sustained 100% damage with the estimated cost of damage set at $20,000.

Investigations will be conducted to determine the cause of the 3 fires.

FEATURE NEWS
Free, fair and unregulated media is vital for genuine democracy—Prof. Prasad
A free, fair and unregulated media is absolutely vital for true and genuine democracy. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Bi...
3 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
18-year-old man in custody for allegedly assaulting an elderly woman
An 18-year-old man is in police custody after allegedly assaulting a woman in her 70s at her home in Siberia, Labasa. Assistant Commissioner of ...
33 minutes ago

From Humble Beginnings to High-Tech Healing: PSH Hospitals Puts Fiji’s Health First
Fiji is experiencing a healthcare revolution, and at the heart of it all is Parvish Kumar—the visionary founder and CEO of Pacific Specialist ...
2 hours ago

Billion dollar cruise ship arrives in Suva with more than a thousand visitors
Fiji is the go-to destination for Australian couple Robin Cooper and her husband, who arrived in Suva this morning via the billion-dollar cruise ...
3 hours ago

It was a deliberate attack to ruin my reputation and positions – Tabuya
It was a deliberate attack. The attacker's sole purpose was to publicly humiliate, to defame me, to crucify me, to morally judge me, to character ...
3 hours ago

4 to front court for alleged meth and marijuana possession in Vatuwaqa
The four men who were allegedly found with methamphetamine and marijuana during a drug raid at the Nanuku Settlement in Vatuwaqa on Saturday have ...
4 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Health Minister Dr Lalabalavu on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Health Minister, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
6 days ago

PM Rabuka on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan. The in-depth interview will focus on many issues facing the ...
10 days ago

Perth 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side finished in 5th place at the HSBC Perth 7s after defeating France 17-5 in the 5th place ...
11 days ago

TOP