Fire Destroys Classrooms at John Wesley College: What’s Next?

A fire on Friday morning severely damaged the technical vocational classrooms and a staff room at John Wesley College, located along Grantham Road in Suva. The blaze, which ignited around 10 am, resulted in the destruction of several key facilities including the technical drawing room, science lab, and home economics room. Fortunately, there were no classes underway at the time, as the school is currently in the examination period.

National Fire Authority (NFA) officers responded promptly to extinguish the fire, with police assisting in the safe evacuation of students. Despite their efforts, NFA chief executive officer Sowane Puamau noted that the arrival of fire tankers was delayed, which might have prevented further damage. He pointed out that, while they were able to save the computer lab, the destruction of essential equipment in the science, home economics, and technical drawing rooms was significant.

Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro visited the site at midday, receiving updates from the school principal. He emphasized the importance of learning from such incidents, highlighting plans to involve fire safety experts in educating students about fire prevention and mitigation strategies. He assured the community that classes would resume as scheduled, with adjustments made to internal examinations as necessary, based on the head of school’s discretion.

This unfortunate event has sparked discussions about improving fire safety measures in educational institutions, potentially creating a more informed and prepared community in the face of emergencies. With the resilience shown by the school and local authorities, there’s an opportunity for a proactive approach toward enhancing safety standards and fostering a culture of preparedness among students and staff.

In summary, while the fire caused significant damage, the swift response from emergency services and the commitment from educational authorities to not disrupt learning showcases an optimistic way forward in addressing safety and resilience in schools.