The National Fire Authority (NFA) has advised the public and business operators to be vigilant as the festive season approaches. This alert follows a significant industrial fire that broke out on Friday morning at Auto City Place in Raiwaqa, Suva.
NFA CEO Puamau Sowane stated that firefighters from the Suva Fire Station arrived at the site shortly after 2:49 AM and found a complex, which housed a restaurant, a kava store, and an automotive spare parts shop, ablaze. Firefighters from the Valelevu Fire Station in Nasinu assisted in extinguishing the fire.
Their efforts proved effective as they were able to control the fire within an hour and prevent it from spreading to neighboring structures. Unfortunately, the building suffered 80 percent structural damage, with the total cost of damage yet to be calculated. Investigations are set to begin soon to determine the possible cause of the fire.
As the holiday season nears, Sowane stressed the necessity of fire safety. He urged business owners to turn off all unused power points and equipment and to secure windows and doors to reduce fire hazards. “These are simple measures anyone can take that can greatly lessen the risk of unwanted fires and subsequent property damage,” he emphasized.