The National Fire Authority (NFA) is advising the public and business owners to be vigilant as the festive season approaches. This alert follows a serious industrial fire that took place early Friday morning at Auto City Place in Raiwaqa, Suva.
NFA CEO Puamau Sowane reported that the crew from Suva Fire Station reached the site at 2:49 AM, finding a complex that housed a restaurant, a kava shop, and an automotive spare parts store heavily ablaze. Firefighters from the Valelevu Fire Station in Nasinu joined the efforts to control the fire.
The firefighting teams successfully extinguished the flames within an hour, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Despite their efforts, the structure suffered 80 percent damage, and the total cost of the destruction is still being assessed. Investigations into the fire’s cause are set to begin soon.
As the festive season draws near, Mr. Sowane stressed the need for fire safety. He urged business owners to turn off all unused electrical outlets and machinery and to secure their premises to lower the risk of fires. “These are simple measures that anyone can take, but they significantly decrease the likelihood of unwanted fires and potential property damage,” he stated.