A family in Koroqaqa, located along Baulevu Road near Nausori Town, has lost their home following a fire that broke out on Wednesday morning. The National Fire Authority (NFA) reported that the fire originated from the storage area. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames using a garden hose but had to flee when the situation worsened rapidly.
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 stations responded to the emergency around 6 a.m. At the time of the incident, a 31-year-old taxi driver was at home with his wife, their two children, and his mother.
NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane voiced his concern regarding the increasing incidents of residential fires. He announced that the authority is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework. This initiative is a training program designed by the NFA and offered free to communities, consisting of two weeks of intensive training focused on firefighting techniques, fire prevention, basic first aid, and emergency response.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway.