Firefighters from the Levuka Fire Station acted swiftly to avert a significant disaster at the old Pacific Fishing Company building in Levuka on Wednesday, September 4. The National Fire Authority received an emergency call at 4:15 PM, and the crew arrived at the scene within four minutes to find a 30 by 20-foot wooden structure fully ablaze.
Using a dividing breeching device and a nearby hydrant, the firefighters managed to extinguish the flames by 5:41 PM. Unfortunately, the building, which had previously served as a kindergarten, suffered complete structural damage, with no estimate available yet regarding the cost of the damages.
Additionally, on Tuesday, September 3, the Seaqaqa Fire Station responded to another fire at Nakoro Settlement, where a vacant single-bedroom house was found completely destroyed. The house had been powered by solar energy and was home to six individuals at the time of the incident.
Investigations are currently underway to determine the causes of both fires. Puamau Sowane, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Fire Authority, commended the Levuka team for their prompt actions and emphasized the heightened risk of structural fires due to ongoing hot and dry conditions, urging the public to prioritize fire safety.