A significant fire erupted this afternoon at a property located on Waila Feeder Road near Nausori, leading to extensive damage. Witnesses reported seeing thick black smoke and initially suspected it was from someone burning tires nearby.
Manoa Gasaudrokadroka, one of the witnesses, mentioned that he initially dismissed the smoke as simply someone burning tires or rubbish. However, the situation quickly escalated when fellow witness Asaeli Racule observed that the fire originated from the back flat of the property and spread at an alarming rate. “When we got here, we saw the fire broke out from the back flat, and it spread so quickly,” Racule stated, noting that the flames ultimately led to a car explosion as it engulfed the lower flats.
The aftermath of the fire left the landlord visibly devastated, witnessing their property consumed by flames and smoke. Suliasi Waqa, another bystander, shared a concerning incident where one tenant, an elderly woman, fainted upon returning to find her home filled with smoke. “The old lady fainted when she saw the house was on fire after coming back from her walk,” Waqa recounted.
Efforts to control the fire were hampered as witnesses noted that it required three trucks from the National Fire Authority (NFA) to refill from a nearby river three times. Many expressed concern over delays in communication and a lack of community vigilance, which they believe contributed to the inability of the NFA to save the property.
As of now, both the tenants and the property owner have opted not to comment further. This incident marks the fifth house fire reported this year, raising concerns within the community regarding fire safety and prevention measures.
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