Inferno Engulfs John Wesley College, Classes to Continue Amid Recovery Efforts

A fire broke out at John Wesley College on Grantham Road in Suva on Friday morning, leading to the destruction of key vocational classrooms and a staff room. The blaze, which started around 10 am, caused significant damage to the technical drawing room, science lab, and home economics classroom. Fortunately, there were no students present at the time, as classes are currently suspended during the school examination period.

National Fire Authority (NFA) officers responded to the emergency and worked diligently to control the fire while police assisted in evacuating staff members. NFA CEO Sowane Puamau expressed that the situation could have been mitigated further if fire tankers had arrived sooner, potentially saving more parts of the building. Despite the damage, the computer lab was preserved during the fire-fighting efforts.

Mr. Nazid, who assessed the situation, noted that much of the vocational equipment in the affected rooms was lost. Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro visited the school later that day and was updated by the school principal. He emphasized the importance of learning from such incidents, suggesting that fire experts be brought in to educate students about fire safety and mitigation strategies.

Despite the damage, Radrodro reassured that the academic schedule would remain undisrupted. He mentioned that adjustments might be necessary for internal examinations, which will be managed by the school’s administration.

This incident, while unfortunate, has spurred a conversation about the importance of fire safety in schools. The commitment from both the authorities and the educational leadership to enhance safety measures ensures that similar accidents can be better prevented in the future. This proactive approach illustrates a resilient response to adversity, aiming not only to recover but also to strengthen the safety protocols within educational institutions.

In summary, while the fire has caused considerable damage, the dedication to learning from this event and the assurance that classes will continue is indeed a hopeful note for the students and community at John Wesley College.