A fire engulfed four classrooms, an office block, a library, and an IT room at Deshbandhu Vitogo School in Lautoka early Saturday morning. The estimated damage is between $500,000 and $700,000, and the school lacks insurance coverage.
Witness Eshu Nadan reported that the affected classrooms were for Year 1 to Year 8 and noted that the building’s roof had been replaced in 2008 due to termite damage. He described the classrooms as spacious and fully air-conditioned.
The blaze reportedly began around 1:30 AM, and although the National Fire Authority was contacted, they were unable to control the fire.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident, stating that the cause of the fire is still unknown while they await a report from the National Fire Authority.
In a separate incident, firefighters successfully extinguished an industrial fire in Suva last Friday. According to Puamau Sowane, CEO of the National Fire Authority, their command center was notified at 2:39 AM by officers at the Raiwaqa Police Station about a blaze at Auto City Place, located off Grantham Rd in Raiwaqa. The building sustained 80 percent structural damage, but the total estimated cost of the damage has not yet been determined.
Mr. Sowane urged building owners and business operators to secure their properties properly as the festive season approaches, emphasizing the need for public vigilance to help prevent fires and property losses.