Fire leaves Waila family homeless

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Giles Simpson
5 years ago
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1 Press release: CAO/1/4/08 Date: 4 April 2008 Fire leaves Waila family homeless A family is homeless after their house at Davuilevu House in Waila was completely destroyed by a fire this afternoon, Thursday 4 April No one was hurt during the incident. NFA Nausori Fire Station was alerted by concerned neighbours at 1330hrs and when NFA s fire fighters arrived at the scene at 1338hrs the single structure wooden building was well involved. Quick action by NFA fire fighters kept the fire under control, stopping its spread to nearby homes. The fire was completely extinguished at 1416hrs. NFA s Station Officer Nausori Soropepeli Korobiau was thankful to the concerned neighbours for alerting NFA. He appeals to the public to immediately call NFA on emergency line 911 immediately after the fire starts to enable NFA to respond to the fire scene earlier. Investigation into the cause of the Waila fire is currently underway. - Ends P: F: M:

2 National Fire Authority Press release: CAO/2/4/08 Date: 7 April 2008 NFA contains early morning Fire at Samabula A fire in Samabula severely damaged the Fix Rite Upholstery Store on Ratu Mara Road early this morning. A 911 fire call was received by NFA at 0328hrs. The fire appliances arrived on the scene at 0333hrs and found the building well involved in fire. Three fire appliances attended the fire scene. NFA fire fighters from Suva and Valelevu Fire Stations fought hard to contain the fire as the contents in the upholstery store contributed to the intensity of the fire. NFA fire fighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings, especially the wooden building next door. Investigation into the cause of the fire is yet to be completed. This Fire is a perfect example of where good building construction has contributed to containing a fire to the compartment of origin, said Divisional Fire Officer Central/Eastern Qio Moceitai. He said that poor building construction would have allowed this fire to spread to neighbouring properties. For those who may require guidance into the requirements of the building code, please contact either the Fiji Institution of Engineers, the Fiji Association of Architects, your local Town Council or NFA HQ in Walu Bay, Suva. -Ends-

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4 Press release: CAO/3/4/08 Date: 8 April 2008 Early alert helps NFA stop Fire An early emergency call enabled NFA to save a second-hand clothing shop from being destroyed by fire in Labasa last night. The shop is located in the Kalyanji Pala Building on Nanuku Street and is operated by S. Singh Stores. NFA Labasa received the call at 2048hrs and upon arrival at 2052hrs found a small but developing fire in the shop which was quickly contained by firefighters. The fire caused damage to 5% of the building and smoke damage to some of the contents. Fire investigations have been completed and the report has been handed over to the Police. This incident is a good example of how an early fire call can help NFA respond quickly and effectively to a fire scene and in the process help reduce the destructive effect of fire on property said Divisional Fire Officer Northern Isoa Makutu. Call us on 911 immediately a fire is detected and give us the best opportunity to respond to the fire scene as quickly as possible. -Ends- P: F: M:

5 Press release: CAO/4/4/08 Date: 11 April 2008 NFA uses water from nearby creek to extinguish burning school NFA Labasa firefighters responded to an early morning fire call at Valebasoga Secondary School, approximately 10km outside of town. The emergency call was received from a neighbour who reported that flames were coming out from one of the classrooms in the middle of the school building s second floor. NFA Labasa received the call at 0054hrs and upon arrival at 0105hrs found that the school s second floor was well involved. The NFA firefighters drafted water from a nearby creek using their portable pump as there was no nearby fire hydrant. The creek was about 300m away from the school. The fire caused damage to seven classrooms, the principal s office, the administration office and staff toilets. NFA firefighters managed to contain the fire to the second floor, stopping its spread to the classrooms on the ground level. Divisional Fire Officer North Isoa Makutu said: It was very difficult to access and contain the fire because it was on the second floor but I am very proud of our firefighters for working hard at keeping the fire from spreading to the classrooms on the ground floor. Investigation into the cause of fire is currently underway. NFA CEO Joseva Gavidi said: School Managements and Committees are encouraged to write to the Commissioner of Water Supplies to install fire hydrants near their properties if there is none there at the moment. Mr Gavidi said: In the light of the Valebasoga Secondary School fire this morning, NFA is recommending to all School Managements in Fiji to review their risk management practices and make the necessary improvements quickly. This can include considering watchmen services and fire wardens set up as first line of attack whilst the firefighters are on their way. This will significantly minimize any damage to property, Mr Gavidi said.

6 He said that NFA is available to assist in the setup and training of Fire Wardens. -Ends- P: F: M:

7 Press release: CAO/5/4/08 Date: 11 April 2008 Smokey the FireBird & the Twistees Smokehouse visits Vanua Levu NFA Mascot Smokey the FireBird and his Twistees sponsored Smokehouse will be visiting primary schools in Vanua Levu for the first time next week. -Ends- P: F: M:

8 Press release: CAO/6/4/08 Date: Saturday, 12 April 2008 NFA puts out fire at Commissioner Eastern s Office NATIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY SUVA firefighters responded to a fire call at one of the offices of the Commissioner Eastern in Suva this afternoon. NFA Suva received the call at 1304hrs and upon arrival at 1310hrs found smoke coming out of one of the offices. The office was closed and there was no one in the wooden building. The firefighters had to force open the door to the office and found the room filled with smoke and the fallen air conditioning unit burning., who was at the fire scene, said It was a good thing that the Security Guard at the nearby US Embassy called us as soon as he saw smoke coming from the wooden building. This enabled us to attend to the fire early and stop its spread into the adjoining rooms, preventing a major disaster for the Commissioner Eastern s offices and adjoining FAB offices. She said that it was also good that all the doors and windows in that office were shut which smothered the quick spread of the fire to the next door offices. This incident is a good example of how an early fire call can help NFA respond quickly and effectively to a fire scene and in the process help reduce the destructive effect of fire on property, she said. Call NFA on 911 immediately a fire is detected and give us the best opportunity to respond to the fire scene as quickly as possible. She added that NFA is recommending to all business houses to review their risk management practices and make the necessary improvements promptly. This can include considering watchmen services and fire wardens set up as first line of attack whilst the firefighters are on their way. This will significantly minimize any damage to property. She said that NFA is available to assist in the setup and training of Fire Wardens. A thorough fire investigation will soon be conducted. -Ends-

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10 Press release: CAO/7/4/08 Date: Monday, 21 April 2008 NFA responds to House Fire at Saweni National Fire Authority Lautoka firefighters responded to a fire call at Saweni outside Lautoka City early this morning. NFA Lautoka received the call at 0707hrs and upon arrival at 0718hrs found that the partially concrete and wooden single structure house was well involved. The dwelling housed four flats which were occupied at the time of the fire incident. No one was hurt during the incident. Investigation into the cause of fire is underway but initial investigations indicate an electrical overload could have contributed. Acting District Fire Officer Western Ravuama Ragogo appeals to the public to call NFA on emergency line 911 immediately the fire starts to enable NFA to respond to the fire scene as quickly as possible. - Ends P: F: M:

11 Press release: CAO/8/4/08 Date: Thursday, 24 April 2008 NFA s quick response saves Tanoa Plaza NATIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY SUVA firefighters responded to a fire call at Suva s Tanoa Plaza last night. NFA Suva was alerted at 1906hrs through the hotel s Private Fire Alarm system and upon arrival at 1912hrs saw smoke coming out of the Tanoa Plaza s roof top. NFA officers quickly informed the Hotel Supervisor to immediately evacuate the hotel guests as a safety precautionary measure. The fire fighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire using the hotel s dry riser, which made their work very quick and easy. NFA Sub Officer Epeli Roko said: We commend the hotel s fire wardens for quickly applying their fire training knowledge and keeping the fire under control whilst the fire fighters were on their way to the scene. This enabled the NFA fire fighters to contain the fire to the roof top and stopping it from further spread. A thorough fire investigation is currently underway but initial fire investigation indicates that welding slag may have caused the fire. NFA will also verify the quality of foil that could have contributed to the rooftop fire. District Fire Officer Central Eastern Qio Moceitai raised caution when working with fire. I ask the public and even skilled personnel, to be careful when working with fire. Ensure that you check your working surround for flammable material. Welding slag or cinders are not visible but they burn slowly and can cause a fire. NFA urges property owners to implement and enforce building work permit systems (for cold, hot, high rise or confined space) to prevent disasters or accidents like this. -End- P: F: M:

12 Press release: CAO/9/4/08 Date: Friday, 25 April 2008 NFA responds to Baulevu house fire NATIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY NAUSORI AND VALELEVU firefighters responded to an emergency call at a three-flat residential property in Baulevu, Nausori this afternoon. NFA was alerted at 1209hrs. When the crew arrived at the fire scene at 1223hrs the building was well involved. Firefighters were able to contain the fire from spreading to a neighboring timber structure located just 2 meters away. The dwelling and its contents were completely destroyed. Acting Chief Fire Officer Tupou Saubulinayau said: the cause of fire is believed to be a suicidal attempt by one of the tenants. Although fire investigations have yet to be completed, our initial investigation indicates that the person poured kerosene on the walls of her flat and on herself before setting the place alight, Mr Saubulinayau said. Fire investigations have yet to be completed and will be handed over to the Police. -End- P: F: M:

13 Press release: CAO/10/4/08 Date: Tuesday, 29 April 2008 NFA attends to House Fire at Saunaka, Nadi National Fire Authority Nadi firefighters responded to an emergency call at Saunaka Village in Nadi yesterday. NFA Nadi crew received the 911 call at 1219hrs and upon arrival 5 minutes later at 1224hrs found that one end of the single dwelling was on fire. The dwelling was a wooden and partially concrete three bedroom single house. Two fire appliances attended the fire scene and swift action by the firefighters contained the fire to the concrete portion of the dwelling, stopping the fire from spreading to the adjoining wooden extension, contrary to a media announcement that the house was razed to the ground. Firefighters saved the concrete roof structure and its walls and the adjoining wooden structure which housed the third bedroom and living room. Burnt were household items in the two bedrooms, kitchen and storage room. No one was hurt during the incident. NFA s Acting Chief Fire Officer Tupou Saubulinayau urges residents to practice good housekeeping and avoid stocking up old household items because they are dry and can readily catch fire when exposed to any source of ignition. Mr Saubulinayau said: The early 911 call enabled NFA to quickly respond to the fire scene, enabling the firefighters to stop the fire from spreading to the wooden part of the house and destroying the house completely. However, poor water pressure from the nearest hydrant at the Village hindered our ability to hose down the fire faster. Our second appliance had to refill at the next hydrant which was located 250 metres away from the fire scene (past McDonald s Restaurant) and I thank our Nadi crew for their quick action, Mr Saubulinayau said. A thorough investigation into the cause of fire continues. - Ends

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