A family in Koroqaqa, located along Baulevu Road just outside Nausori Town, has lost their home due to a fire that broke out on Wednesday morning. The National Fire Authority (NFA) reported that the fire originated from the storage area of the house. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames with a garden hose, but had to flee as the fire rapidly spread.
The estimated damage to the four-bedroom house is between $80,000 to $90,000. Firefighting teams from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the blaze around 6 am. At the time of the incident, the home was occupied by a 31-year-old taxi driver, his wife, two children, and his mother.
Investigations into the fire are currently underway. Puamau Sowane, CEO of the NFA, expressed concern over the increasing frequency of residential fires. He stated that the NFA is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, which is a training program offered free of charge to communities. This program includes two weeks of intensive training focused on firefighting techniques, prevention of unwanted fires, basic first aid, and emergency response within communities.