A family in Koroqaqa, located along Baulevu Road near Nausori Town, has been left homeless after a fire engulfed their residence on Wednesday morning. The National Fire Authority (NFA) reported that the fire originated in the storage area of the house. Although the homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames with a garden hose, the fire spread rapidly, forcing the family to evacuate.
The estimated damage to the four-bedroom home is between $80,000 to $90,000. Fire crews from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the incident shortly after 6 am. At the time of the fire, the 31-year-old homeowner, a taxi driver, was inside the home with his wife, two children, and mother.
NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane voiced concerns over the increasing number of residential fires. He mentioned that the NFA is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, a training program offered at no cost to communities. This initiative includes two weeks of intensive training in firefighting techniques, fire prevention strategies, basic first aid, and emergency response skills tailored for community members.