NFA Pushes for Vehicle Insurance Levy to Boost Emergency Services Funding

The National Fire Authority (NFA) is advocating for the strict enforcement of a law that mandates insured vehicles to contribute to a fire service levy. This appeal comes as the NFA faces rising operational costs associated with road accident rescues, which currently are not funded through vehicle insurance levies as stipulated by law.

NFA Chief Executive Puamau Sowane reports that the authority has conducted 56 road accident rescues this year without receiving any direct funding from the insurance levies, which he deems unfair. Sowane emphasized that while property owners contribute via fire levies, vehicle owners benefit from the NFA’s services without contributing financially. “This service we provide, including our firefighting and rescue operations to extract victims, requires resources that could be enhanced with proper funding,” he stated.

Historically, the NFA has responded to an increasing number of road accidents: 153 rescues in 2022, 187 in 2023, and 180 in 2024, illustrating the growing demand for emergency services. Sowane is also keen to raise awareness about the expanded role of the NFA, which now encompasses various aspects of emergency response beyond just firefighting, reflecting an evolution in the agency’s mandate to adapt to the changing dynamics of community safety.

The push for enforcing the insurance levy is part of a wider discussion surrounding funding for emergency services, which has gained additional urgency in light of the NFA’s ongoing initiatives to improve services and infrastructure, as indicated in previous reports detailing proposed expansions and the assessment of service boundaries to include underserved areas.

With these efforts, there is potential for enhanced life-saving services across Fiji, as the NFA strives to secure the necessary resources to effectively meet the needs of the community. The hope is that by ensuring all vehicle owners participate in funding the fire services through insurance contributions, the NFA will be better positioned to deliver timely and critical emergency responses, ultimately improving public safety for all citizens.