A family living in Koroqaqa along Baulevu Road, just outside Nausori Town, is now without a home following a fire that ravaged their house on Wednesday morning.
According to the National Fire Authority (NFA), the fire originated from the storage area of the house. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames with a garden hose but was forced to evacuate his family when the blaze quickly intensified.
The estimated damage to the four-bedroom residence is between $80,000 to $90,000. Firefighting teams from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the incident around 6 AM. The house belonged to a 31-year-old taxi driver who was at home with his wife, two children, and mother at the time of the fire.
Investigations into the incident are currently underway. NFA CEO Puamau Sowane expressed concern over the increasing number of residential fires.
“We are enhancing our Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework,” Mr. Sowane stated. “This program, designed and implemented by the NFA, offers free two-week intensive training on firefighting skills, focusing on preventing fires, administering basic first aid, and effectively responding to various emergencies in the community.”