A fire broke out at Lomaivuna Secondary School in Naitasiri last Sunday, resulting in significant damage to two classrooms, a staff room, the main office, a physics lab, and the girls’ washroom.
School manager Sakiusa Duwai reported that he heard two loud bangs while working on his farm, which prompted him to raise the alarm. Upon arriving at the school, he discovered thick black smoke coming from the staff room, which was locked. He alerted the teachers and managed to rescue a photocopying machine before the situation worsened.
As the fire spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds, Mr. Duwai advised the teachers to focus on their safety rather than saving property. The flames quickly engulfed the main office and nearby classrooms assigned to Year 12 students.
Community members and students joined forces to combat the fire, but by the time the police and fire brigade responded, the building was already completely destroyed. Mr. Duwai emphasized the pressing need for a fire station in Lomaivuna.
The National Fire Authority is currently investigating the cause of the fire and will provide an update once more information is available.