The National Fire Authority (NFA) is investigating how a Tebara Transport Limited Bus caught fire in Makoi, outside Suva, yesterday.

The incident took place at 6pm when workers were returning home. There were 25 passengers on board, according to police spokesperson Ana Naisoro. No one was hurt.

The authority said it responded to a call received at approximately 6pm and despatched 10 firefighters and two fire tenders to the scene from its Valelevu depot.

Eyewitness Shane Kumar, of Makoi, said the bus was heading towards Nausori. The bus came to a standstill at the Makoi bus stop and passengers were alighting.

Mr Kumar said smoke was already very visible at the time. But the flames broke out soon afterwards. By then all passengers and the driver had vacated the bus.

It is understood the passengers were put on another bus heading for Nausori.

Another eyewitness, Kelevi Salakiwailiku, said he noticed the bus driver cautioning passengers to vacate the bus in an orderly and safe way before the real fire started.

When the Fiji Sun team arrived at the scene, firefighters were inspecting what remained of the bus.

Tebara Transport Limited chief executive Arvind Maharaj said the bus was last inspected for fitness by the Land Transport Authority in October 2017.

“Every year or every six months our buses get fitness checks depending on the age of the bus,” Mr Maharaj said.

“We also conduct the checks on the buses once every week to make sure that the buses are well-serviced to carry passengers.

“We do not know the cause of the fire.  We are also waiting for the NFA report to know the cause of the fire so we can make further changes for the safety of the passengers.”

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

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