The National Fire Authority (NFA) has issued a cautionary message to the public and business owners as the festive season draws near. This advisory follows a substantial industrial fire that took place early Friday morning at Auto City Place in Raiwaqa, Suva.
According to NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane, the Suva Fire Station crew responded promptly, arriving at the scene at 2:49 AM to find several establishments, including a restaurant, a kava store, and an automotive spare parts shop, heavily engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Valelevu Fire Station in Nasinu also joined in the firefighting efforts.
The crews managed to control the fire within an hour, successfully preventing its spread to surrounding buildings. However, the structural damage to the building has been assessed at 80 percent, with the total cost of damages still to be determined. Investigations are set to commence shortly to identify the potential cause of the fire.
As the festive season approaches, Mr. Sowane emphasized the critical nature of fire safety. He encouraged business owners to turn off unused power points and machinery and to secure windows and doors to reduce fire hazards. “These are all simple measures that anyone can implement, but they can significantly reduce the chances of unwanted fires and subsequent property loss,” he noted.