The National Fire Authority (NFA) has issued a warning to the public and business proprietors to take precautions as the holiday season draws near. This advisory follows a major industrial fire that took place early Friday morning at Auto City Place in Raiwaqa, Suva.
NFA CEO Puamau Sowane stated that the Suva Fire Station crew arrived at the site at 2:49 AM, discovering a complex that included a restaurant, a kava store, and an automotive spare parts shop fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Valelevu Fire Station in Nasinu assisted in the efforts to extinguish the fire.
Thanks to their prompt actions, the fire was brought under control within an hour, preventing it from spreading to nearby structures. However, the building suffered 80 percent structural damage, and the total cost of the damages has not yet been assessed. Investigations are expected to begin soon to determine the fire’s likely cause.
As the festive season approaches, Mr. Sowane stressed the critical importance of fire safety. He advised business owners to turn off all unused power points and machines and to secure windows and doors to reduce fire hazards.
“These are simple measures anyone can take, but they can greatly decrease the likelihood of unwanted fires and the resulting property loss,” he emphasized.