A tragic fire consumed a corrugated iron house in Wainibuka on Wednesday, August 21, at 9:18 am. The Korovou Fire Station was alerted by a police officer regarding the blaze near Nabulini Village, situated about 42 kilometers from Korovou town.
Responding promptly, a crew comprising six firefighters arrived at the scene by 10:14 am, only to find the house fully engulfed in flames. The residence belonged to a 42-year-old farmer living with his wife and two children. Firefighters worked tirelessly and managed to extinguish the fire two hours later.
Earlier that same day, at 6:05 am, the National Fire Authority’s command center received another emergency call, this time about a four-bedroom house on Baulevu Rd in Koroqaqa. The crew from Nausori Fire Station swiftly responded and worked to control the fire. Fortunately, the house belonged to a 31-year-old taxi driver who was at home with his wife, children, and mother. All family members managed to escape unharmed.
Initial investigations revealed that the fire in Koroqaqa started in the storage area, leading to total destruction of the property, with damages estimated between $80,000 and $90,000.
NFA CEO Puamau Sowane announced that investigations into the causes of both fires have begun and emphasized the need for heightened awareness campaigns to address the increasing number of residential fires. “Our statistics indicate a rise in structural fires, rubbish, cane and bush fires, road accident rescues, and vehicle fires this year compared to the same timeframe last year,” said Mr. Sowane. He urged the public to call the emergency line 910 before trying to extinguish fires or retrieve belongings from a burning home.