A family in Koroqaqa, situated along Baulevu Road near Nausori Town, has been left homeless after a fire ravaged their home on Wednesday morning.
According to the National Fire Authority (NFA), the blaze originated from the storage area of the residence. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose, but the flames quickly spread, forcing the family to flee.
The NFA estimated the damage to the four-bedroom house to be between $80,000 and $90,000. Fire crews from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the incident around 6 a.m. The house belonged to a 31-year-old taxi driver, who was present at the time along with his wife, two children, and mother.
The NFA has opened an investigation into the incident. Puamau Sowane, the chief executive officer of the NFA, has voiced concerns over the increasing number of residential fires.
“To combat this issue, we are enhancing our Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework. This program provides free training to all communities,” Mr. Sowane stated. “The training spans two weeks and focuses on firefighting techniques, fire prevention, basic first aid, and effective emergency response in communities.”