NFA cautions teachers against school fires, students’ safety
The National Fire Authority (NFA) is calling on school management and heads to ensure the safety of students and the school facilities at all times.
On Tuesday NFA attended to a fire at Vatuwaqa Primary School in Suva. Fortunately, the school hasn’t been used since December, 2022.
NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said fire safety should be a priority at all times to protect school buildings and amenities, staff members and importantly students.
Tuesday’s incident was the second in the school within 11 months and Mr Puamau is sad to see how little the school management had learnt from the previous fire. He said a fire crew on two fire trucks and an ambulance were dispatched to the school after they received the fire call on Tuesday night.
Mr Sowane said investigations revealed that the fire originated from a empty classroom where papers and books were being stored.
Quick action by the firefighters managed to control the fire before it escalated to its free burning stage sustaining only two per cent damage, he said.
He confirmed that the first fire was an act of arson.
“In the last incident on December 12, 2022, the school canteen, and school block that catered for Years 1, 2 and 3 were destroyed,” he said.
“The main block that catered for the school administration office, Year 8 and the school library was partly damaged.” Mr Sowane said to avoid any further incidents, the NFA would ensure proper fire safety inspections are carried out at all schools in Fiji to ensure all facilities are fire safety compliant.