A family in Koroqaqa, located along Baulevu Road near Nausori Town, has lost their home following a fire that erupted on Wednesday morning. According to the National Fire Authority (NFA), the fire originated in the storage area of the house. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the flames using a garden hose, but the fire quickly spread, forcing the family to flee.
The NFA estimates that the damage to the four-bedroom house amounts to between $80,000 and $90,000. Fire crews from the Nausori and Nakasi fire stations responded to the blaze around 6 a.m. The property belonged to a 31-year-old taxi driver, who was home with his wife, two children, and mother at the time of the incident.
NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane has voiced concerns over the increasing number of residential fires. In response, the NFA is enhancing its Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, which is a training program offered free of charge to communities. This program provides two weeks of intensive training focused on firefighting skills, fire prevention, basic first aid, and emergency response.
Investigations into the incident are currently underway.