Prompt action taken by firefighters from the Levuka Fire Station averted 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 within four minutes, discovering a wooden structure measuring 30 by 20 feet completely engulfed in flames. Utilizing a dividing breeching device and a nearby hydrant, the firefighters managed to control the blaze by 5:41 pm.
The building, which had previously served as a kindergarten, suffered total structural damage. The estimated cost of the damage is not yet available.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, September 3, firefighters from the Seaqaqa Fire Station responded to a fire at Nakoro Settlement, arriving to find a vacant single-bedroom house completely destroyed. This house, occupied by six residents and equipped with solar power, was severely damaged.
The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.
Puamau Sowane, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Fire Authority, commended the Levuka team for their efficient response and emphasized the rising risk of structural fires due to ongoing hot and dry conditions, urging the public to stay alert regarding fire safety.