7 Property Fires in 72 Hours

Seven property fires and one road accident rescue were recorded by the National Fire Authority (NFA) between Friday, July 25, and Sunday, July 27, prompting urgent calls for greater public vigilance.

The most significant incident occurred at Amy Street in Suva, where the Gokal Group warehouse was destroyed by fire, causing an estimated $8 million in damages. A female firefighter sustained injuries during the operation.

In total, fires destroyed or severely damaged homes in Lautoka, Nadi, Nasinu, Tailevu and Suva over the three days, in Johnson Road, Lautoka, a family of five lost their home with 95% damage estimated at $90,000. In Korovuto, Nadi, a vacant one-bedroom house owned by a resort worker was destroyed, with a damage estimate of $40,000.

In Tailevu, two separate fires caused major losses. In Namono Village, Bau Road, a wooden home was destroyed, with losses estimated at $40,000. In Kumi Village, Verata, a fire broke out while the family was having breakfast, destroying the house and causing an $80,000 loss.

In Nasinu, two incidents were recorded. In Narere River Road, a single father of four lost his home, with damages valued at $60,000. At Kinoya Koro, a 26-year-old man’s home was fully destroyed, resulting in a loss of $20,000.

In addition to the structural fires, NFA responded to a road accident at Nawaka Junction in Nadi involving an oil tanker and a taxi. There were no injuries reported, but fire crews contained a hazardous fuel spill and cleared the area by midday.

NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane said that although awareness programs have been widespread, preventable fires remain a serious concern. He highlighted unattended mosquito coils, poor electrical safety and unsafe storage of flammable substances as common causes.

He urged all Fijians to contact NFA’s toll-free line 910 at the first sign of fire and reiterated the long-term impact of property fires on families and communities.

So far in 2025, a total of 100 property fires have been reported, matching the figures for the same period in 2024.