A family in Koroqaqa, located along Baulevu Road outside Nausori Town, has become homeless following a devastating fire that consumed their residence on Wednesday morning.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) reported that the blaze originated from the storage area of the home. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames using a garden hose, but the fire spread rapidly, forcing the family to flee for safety.
The estimated damage to the four-bedroom house is between $80,000 and $90,000. Firefighters from the NFA, stationed in Nausori and Nakasi, responded to the fire at approximately 6 a.m. The property belonged to a 31-year-old taxi driver, who was at home with his wife, two children, and mother at the time of the incident.
Investigations are currently ongoing. Puamau Sowane, the NFA CEO, expressed concern over the increasing number of residential fires. He noted that the NFA is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, a training program designed to educate communities about fire prevention and emergency response. This free program includes two weeks of intensive training focused on firefighting skills, basic first aid, and community emergency preparedness.