Fire Chief Warns: Stay Safe This Festive Season After Recent Blaze

As the festive season approaches, the National Fire Authority (NFA) is urging the public and business owners to be cautious in light of a significant industrial fire that occurred early Friday morning at Auto City Place in Raiwaqa, Suva.

NFA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Puamau Sowane, reported that the Suva Fire Station crew received the emergency call at 2:49 AM.

Upon arrival, they found a complex engulfed in flames, which housed a restaurant, a kava store, and an automotive spare parts shop.

Firefighters from the Valelevu Fire Station in Nasinu were called in to assist.

The firefighting efforts proved effective, with crews managing to extinguish the blaze within an hour and preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings.

However, the structure sustained approximately 80 percent damage, and the estimated cost of the losses has yet to be determined.

Investigations are set to begin shortly to determine the cause of the fire.

In light of this incident, Mr. Sowane emphasized the importance of fire safety during the festive season.

He urged business owners to adopt simple yet effective measures to reduce fire risks, such as ensuring all unused power points and machinery are switched off and securing windows and doors.

“These are all simple measures that anyone can implement, but they can significantly reduce the chances of unwanted fires and subsequent property loss,” he stressed.

NFA is reminding everyone to prioritize safety to ensure a joyous and incident-free festive season.