Devastating Blaze Strikes John Wesley College: What Happened Next?

A fire erupted at John Wesley College in Suva on Friday morning, resulting in the destruction of several key educational facilities, including the technical drawing room, science lab, home economics room, and a staff room. The blaze started around 10 a.m., but thankfully, there were no classes in session since students were in the midst of their examination period.

National Fire Authority (NFA) personnel responded quickly to the incident, aided by police officers who helped evacuate the area. However, NFA Chief Executive Sowane Puamau acknowledged that their fire tankers arrived later than hoped, limiting their ability to save additional rooms, although they did manage to preserve the computer lab.

Mr. Puamau emphasized the need for improved fire safety protocols, noting the unfortunate outcome could have been mitigated if their response had been quicker. Most of the equipment in the affected rooms was lost, leaving some educators concerned about the future delivery of classes.

Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro visited the site and discussed the incident with the school principal. He highlighted the importance of using such accidents as learning opportunities and suggested the incorporation of fire safety education for students. The minister reassured that classes would continue as scheduled next week, although adjustments might be needed for the affected technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs.

Despite the destruction caused by the fire, the community’s response reveals resilience and a commitment to education. The school leadership and government officials are dedicated to ensuring that learning remains uninterrupted and that measures are put in place to prevent future incidents. This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety awareness in educational environments.

In summary, while the fire caused significant damage to the school, the prompt response of the authorities and the support from the Minister of Education will help ensure that students can continue their education with minimal disruption.