49 families lose their homes in fire in the first 6 months of the year

49 families have lost their homes in separate fire incidents in the first 6 months of the year, amounting to a total loss of $2.6 million.

While speaking at the badging of 32 certified Structural and Fire Safety Inspectors, CEO Puamau Sowane says innocent lives have been lost through negligence and building not compliant to fire safety.

He says all their dreams and hard works have been destroyed and reduces to ashes in a few minutes.

Sowane says these new inspectors need to ensure that appropriate fire safety standards are maintained in all premises to eliminate or minimize fire risk and maximize fire safety compliance and protection of lives and properties.

The NFA also recorded fire incidents at 5 commercial properties in the first 6 months of the year where the total cost of damage is $3.4 million.

The CEO further says from 2017 to 2021 they have attended to 687 structural fires across the country, with the total cost of damage at around $288.4 million.

He says this equates to an annual average of $57.7 million over the last 5-year period, which is painful and excessively harsh and severe in nature.