$1.7m fire station opens in Nakasi

Manned by 28 National Fire Authority crew members, the station was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

The new $1.7 million Nakasi Fire Station at Adi Davila Road was opened by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday.

It comes equipped with a brand new fire truck and will be manned by 28 fire officers. Mr Bainimarama said strong and well-staffed fire stations provided Fijians with emergency services that helped protect homes, businesses, and lives.

“Whenever I turn on the news or open the paper and see an image of a building engulfed in flames, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach – and my first thought, like any Fijian, is whether those inside made it out okay,” he said.

“I wonder what could have been done differently, and how we could have avoided this senseless tragedy. But when a home or business can go from a spark to a raging inferno in just a matter of minutes, it leaves little room for error.

“Every second counts when it comes to responding to a fire – and can make the difference between life and death.” Mr Bainimarama said NFA does more than just put out fires.

“Their heroism was on full display in recent months, as Fiji grappled with two crises – COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold,” he said.

Members of the public are urged to keep matches and lighters out of reach and to call NFA on 910 for assistance.

Photo: Ronald Kumar Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, with the Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar, National Fire Authority chief executive officer Puamau Sowane and some members of the Nakasi Fire Station crew after the opening on June 25, 2020, in Nakasi.