Three families are now homeless after their homes were destroyed by fire during Boxing Day, and the National Fire Authority is calling on members of the public to be vigilant in and around their homes to avoid unwanted fires during this festive season.
The NFA says in the first incident, the duty crew at Lautoka Fire Station were alerted by the NFA Command Centre in Suva at 4.49pm about a fire at Lomolomo Village (outside fire boundary).
They say the duty crew responded immediately with 2 fire trucks and 8 firefighters and arrived at the scene at 5.04pm to find a 1-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.
The firefighters used 1 delivery of 1 length from their tank supply to stop the fire from spreading further and managed to extinguish the flames by 5.34pm.
NFA says the house belonged to a 54-year-old villager and was occupied by her daughter-in-law and 4-month-old son.
The house sustained 100 percent structural damage, with the cost of damage estimated at $30,000.
NFA says at 5.12pm, officers at Tavua Fire Station received a call about a fire at the nearby Police Barracks and immediately responded with 1 fire truck and 7 firefighters.
They say upon arrival to the scene at 5.14pm, the duty crew noticed a 2-bedroom flat at the barracks fully engulfed in flames.
The crew used 1 delivery of 2 lengths with dividing breeching (a device that can split a delivery of water into 2) to bring the fire under control and stop it from spreading to the adjacent flat.
They add that on-site investigations found that the flat was occupied by a 34-year-old officer and his family.
The officer was alone at home and his wife and daughter were at a neighbour’s place, however, when his daughter returned home, she found the upstairs rooms on fire and alerted the officer.
The structure sustained 70% damage with the cost of damage estimated at $30,000.
Meanwhile NFA says at 9.56pm, the duty crew at Nadi Fire Station were alerted by a member of the public about a property fire at Nawejikuma Settlement in Nawaka.
They responded immediately with Brigade immediately responded with 2 fire trucks and 9 firefighters and on arrival at the scene at 10.03pm noticed a two-bedroom corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.
They say the crew used 1 delivery of 2 lengths from their tank supply to stop the fire from further spreading towards adjacent houses and managed to extinguish the fire.
The house, which belongs to a 56-year-old carpenter, was occupied by a family of 10 and was vacant at the time of the fire.
NFA says with a floor space of 150 square metres, the house sustained 95 percent damage with the estimated cost of damage set at $15,000.
NFA Acting CEO Joel Israel says the investigations into the three fires had already started with the results expected soon.
He commends the firefighters for their concerted efforts to put down the fires and stop them from spreading to neighbouring houses.
Israel says the NFA urges members of the public to alert their neighbours and families if they are leaving home, even for a short period.
He adds that they are finding that quite a few houses catching fire are vacant at the time of the incident.
The Acting CEO says please turn off unused power points, electrical appliances, Christmas lights and gas cylinders when leaving the house or before going to bed and store flammable liquids and items in a safe space.
He also urge members of the public to call 910 at the first sign of a fire and never attempt to put the fire out themselves.
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