About 60 people are unemployed after the factory where they worked in was destroyed by fire on Friday night.

The incident occurred at around 7pm at Kalokalo Crescent in Makoi, Nasinu where the factory of United Pacific Fiji Limited which manufactures paper bags was fully engulfed.

A team of 15 National Fire Authority (NFA) fire-fighters were at the scene battled to put out the fire.  They spent the entire night trying to put out the fire and stop the flames from spreading it to adjacent buildings.

United Pacific Fiji Ltd managing director, Kamal Khalil said: “My 32 years of hard work has been destroyed in fire within minutes.

“I am thankful to God that all my workers are safe and no one was injured.

“I still am trying to determine how the fire started. I left the building at around 4pm yesterday and some of my workers were still in the building,” he said.

Mr Khalil claims the damage caused by fire was worth $10 million.

“Around 7pm I received a call that my factory was on fire and by the time I arrived at the scene the building was already on fire and fire fighters were trying to put out the fire.

“I will not give up, and restart my factory,” he said.

Nands Auto Parts Limited, managing director Aneshwar Nand said: “I was here when the fire started but failed to witness how the fire started.

“I tried to stop the fire from spreading to my building.

“The fire started around 7:30pm and I saw a few employees rush out of the building when the fire started,” he said.

A witness, Pravin Kumar of Makoi said: “I was called by a friend of mine who resides next to the factory.

“My friend called and said there is a fire and it had started to spread to his home.

“I rushed and got some help from neighbours to put out the fire from spreading to his house.

“By the time I glanced at the factory I saw a couple of its employees rushed out and the fire fighters were there to put out the fire.

“I believe the fire initially started from the factory.”

NFA, Chief Fire Officer Qionilau Moceitai said: “I am happy with my team. They did a very good job.

“They managed to stop the flames from spreading to other building.”

Mr Moceitai said they were continuing with their investigations.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  shahani.mala@fijisun.com.fj