706 properties lost to fire in the past five years
The Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Katamotu said 706 properties were lost to fire in the past five years (2018-2022). Of which 65 were commercial and industrial properties while 638 were residential homes.
Mr Katamotu said an average of 128 homes were lost to fires annually and an average of 11 homes per month in the past five years.
“As evident from the statistics, residential fires remain the highest compared to commercial buildings,” the Housing Minister said.
Mr Katamotu said it was important for residential building plans to be vetted by the Naitonal Fire Authority (NFA) because of the enforcement of fire safety compliance for all commercial and industrial buildings.
“This includes vetting of commercial building plans, monitoring and training of its workers, as required under the National
Fire Service Act, 1994. The Fire Service Act, 1994, empowers National Fire Authority (NFA) to vet all buildings that fall within the legislated fire boundaries.”
He said the ministry continued to work with authority in terms of construction of new fire stations around the country, procurement of modern fire trucks and firefighting equipment to enhance fire-fighting services.
“It is imperative that we approach new initiatives to combat these residential fires and reduce unwanted fires that destroy people’s dreams and lives,” he said.
“This is one of the reasons for the review of the Fiji National Building Code for the inclusion of updated standards including the fire safety standards that have not been captured in the code.”