In light of two recent school fires, the National Fire Authority (NFA) is ramping up inspections of schools across the nation to ensure adherence to fire safety regulations. NFA chief executive Puamau Sowane highlighted the pressing need for this initiative following incidents at Desbhandhu Vitogo Primary School in Lautoka on October 12 and Lomaivuna High School on October 6.
The NFA is also urging government and school officials to prioritize fire insurance for their properties.
In Lautoka, the fire at Desbhandhu Vitogo Primary School resulted in the destruction of four classrooms, an office, a staff room, and a computer room. The concrete structure, which featured a corrugated iron roof and aluminum doors, suffered 95 percent damage, with estimated repair costs reaching $220,000. Currently, students are attending classes in tents. The total value of the damaged items, which includes a photocopier, laptops, a projector, computer sets, tablets, school stationery worth $4,000, and various other items, amounts to $380,000.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
To tackle the wider issue of fire safety, NFA has initiated talks with the Permanent Secretary for Education and the Minister of Education to incorporate a Fire Safety Curriculum in early classes, aiming to educate children on fire safety from a young age to prepare them for emergencies.
The NFA has also shifted its focus to high-risk schools—particularly those with boarding facilities, commercial kitchens, old classroom blocks, and chemistry labs. So far, 25 schools have been inspected, including 12 major boarding schools in Viti Levu and Taveuni, each with a student population exceeding 500.
NFA is committed to inspecting all primary and secondary schools across Fiji’s three divisions, prioritizing those at greater fire risk to reduce the incidence of school fires and ensure compliance with fire safety standards.
NFA statistics reveal that from January 2019 to October 15, 2024, 22 school buildings across the nation sustained over 90 percent damage in fires, including classrooms, dormitories, and teachers’ quarters, with repair costs exceeding $3.7 million.
Mr. Sowane emphasized the importance of investing in fire insurance for school properties, stating that significant investments in education have been lost due to recent fires. He noted that government investments in schools are substantial, raising ongoing fire safety concerns, especially when students are present in school buildings. Insurance could safeguard these investments in buildings and equipment.
Furthermore, the NFA is working closely with government architects to ensure that all government facilities, particularly schools, comply with the minimum fire safety standards outlined in the National Building Code of Fiji. They are also gathering data from the Ministry of Education regarding the ages of specific school blocks to provide tailored fire safety advice based on the risks of older structures.
This initiative remains a top priority for the NFA, which will continue to update the public on the progress of inspections and advancements in fire safety education within schools.