A fire on Wednesday morning left a family in Koroqaqa, situated along Baulevu Road near Nausori Town, homeless after their residence was engulfed in flames. 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 evacuate as the fire rapidly spread.
The estimated damage to the four-bedroom house is between $80,000 to $90,000. Fire crews from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the incident around 6 a.m. At the time of the fire, the 31-year-old taxi driver was at home with his wife, two children, and mother.
NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane voiced concerns over the increasing frequency of residential fires. To address this issue, the NFA is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework—a training program designed to educate communities on fire safety. This initiative provides two weeks of intensive training focused on firefighting techniques, fire prevention, basic first aid, and emergency response.
Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing.