Story by Eparama Warua

The National Fire Authority (NFA) has urged the Government and schools around the country to insure their properties to avoid huge losses in case of a fire.

The comment came from NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane after a fire destroyed an agricultural workshop and two dormitories at Ra High School near Waimicia, about 40 minutes drive from Rakiraki Town.

Rakiraki Fire station received the call at 2.38pm yesterday (Thursday, 25th April, 2024) from the NFA Command Centre reporting the property fire.

The on-duty crew responded immediately with one truck and six officers and upon arrival at 3.24pm noticed that two dormitories and the workshop had already collapsed to the ground.

The crew immediately established one delivery of two lengths from tank supply to stop the fire from spreading further and managed top extinguish the flames utilising four tanks of water from a nearby creek approximately 1 kilometre away.

The workshop was used by to store brushcutters, garden tools and fencing wire along with some of the students and teachers’ belongings. 

At that time of the fire students were involved in sports activities and only two were 

sleeping in the first dormitory. They managed to escape as they could feel the heat from the building.

There were no casualties and the building was not insured.

The damage sustained is estimated at 90%. The cost of damage is yet to be determined. 

A fire investigation will be carried out to determine the suspected cause of fire 

“It is imperative that both central government and schools insured their properties to avoid big losses like this,” Mr Sowane said.

“Öur people on the ground continue to alert people by carrying out awareness programs through various modes, such as the Integrated Community Fire Wardens and Emergency Response Framework, house-to-house, schools and community visits. NFA also carries out awareness through radio and TV commercials and up until today we have carried out quite a number of awareness programmes.

“What we have seen is that, despite all these awareness programs, people don’t seem to understand the impact of structural fires.

“Having looked at the statistics and under the powers vested in the NFA according to the National Fire Service (Amendment) Act 2009, the Authority will now step up the inspection and fire safety certification of all school facilities around the country (including classrooms, dormitories and kitchens) because of the risks posed to students who study and live in these facilities.”

Mr Sowane urged members of the public to call NFA’s 910 emergency line in the first instance to give firefighters a chance to put out fires during their initial stages.