Fire Devastates John Wesley College: What’s Next?

A significant fire at John Wesley College in Suva on Friday morning led to the destruction of several vital areas, including technical vocational classrooms and a staff room. The blaze, which erupted around 10 a.m., incinerated the technical drawing room, science laboratory, and home economics room, although fortunately, no classes were occurring at the time because the school is currently in its examination period.

National Fire Authority (NFA) personnel promptly responded to the incident, receiving assistance from police officers who helped evacuate students. Despite their efforts, NFA chief executive Sowane Puamau noted that they could have potentially saved more rooms had the fire tankers arrived sooner. “Sadly, most of our tankers arrived a bit late, but we managed to save the computer lab,” he stated. He highlighted the ongoing importance of fire safety measures, especially regarding the preparation of school buildings for emergencies.

Mr. Nazid, who assessed the damage, expressed shock that the building was unoccupied when the fire broke out, adding that most of the specialized equipment in the science, home economics, and technical drawing areas was lost in the incident.

In a show of support, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro visited the college to get updates from the principal. He emphasized the necessity of learning from such accidents as a way to improve safety practices. Radrodro proposed involving fire safety experts to educate students on fire prevention strategies and mentioned working closely with the NFA to evaluate the resilience and safety standards of school buildings.

Despite the tragedy, Radrodro assured that there would be no disruption to classes the following week. The school has committed to continue normal operations, and adjustments for internal examinations will be made at the discretion of the school’s administration.

This incident serves as a reminder of the critical need for effective fire safety protocols in educational institutions, and the community’s resilience may emerge stronger through these challenges by ensuring better preparedness for future incidents.