In response to two recent school fires, the National Fire Authority (NFA) is stepping up its inspections of schools across the country to ensure adherence to fire safety regulations. NFA chief executive Puamau Sowane stressed the urgent need for action following incidents that occurred at Desbhandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka on October 12 and Lomaivuna High School on October 6.
The NFA is also encouraging government and school officials to prioritize fire insurance for their facilities.
In Lautoka, the fire at Desbhandhu Vitogo Primary School caused the destruction of four classrooms, an office, a staff room, and a computer room. The building, a concrete structure with a corrugated iron roof and aluminum doors, suffered 95 percent damage, with estimated repair costs amounting to $220,000. Currently, students are studying in tents. The cost of items lost in the fire totals $160,000, bringing the overall estimated damage to $380,000. Damaged items included a photocopier, laptops, a projector, computer sets, tablets, school stationery worth $4,000, office furniture, air-conditioning units, and supplies meant for student lunches.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
To tackle fire safety education, Mr. Sowane announced that the NFA is collaborating with the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education to introduce a Fire Safety Curriculum for young students, aiming to teach them about fire safety and emergency responses early on.
Regarding inspections, the NFA’s focus has shifted toward high-risk schools, which include those with boarding facilities, commercial kitchens, historical or older classroom buildings, and chemistry labs. They have inspected 25 schools so far, among them 12 major boarding schools in Viti Levu and Taveuni, each with a student body exceeding 500.
The NFA is committed to inspecting all primary and secondary schools across Fiji, especially those vulnerable to fire risks, with the aim of reducing school fires through compliance with fire safety regulations.
Statistics from the NFA reveal that from January 2019 to October 15, 2024, 22 school buildings sustained over 90 percent damage due to fires, with total damage costs exceeding $3.7 million. Mr. Sowane urged school management and the government to consider investing in fire insurance for educational properties. He emphasized that significant sums invested in education have been lost due to recent fires.
Mr. Sowane noted that ensuring fire safety in schools is critical, particularly when students are present. He reiterated that insurance can help safeguard investments in school infrastructure and resources. The NFA is also collaborating with building and government architects to ensure compliance with the National Building Code of Fiji regarding fire safety in educational institutions and is gathering data from the Ministry of Education to assess fire risks associated with older school buildings.
This initiative remains high on the NFA’s agenda, and updates will continue to be provided as inspections and fire safety education efforts progress.