The National Fire Authority’s initiative for the 910 emergency line has all the requirements to act as a national emergency call centre.

The emergency number was launched yesterday at the Holiday Inn Suva by Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar.

The number is received by NFA and then action taken. The three call centres are manned on a 24/7 basis and a dedicated number for fire is intended to cut down on the response time from the fire fighters.

The number can also cater medical emergencies as NFA also has ambulances. However, there is no synergy at this point in time with Police and other first responders.

Ms Kumar said the difference between saving and losing a life in a fire or accident depended on how fast NFA received the emergency call.

“Over the last five years, NFA has responded to an average of 5260 calls per year on a wide-range of emergencies,” she said.

“So far (as at September 7, 2020), NFA has already responded to 3154 calls, which is 60 per cent of the annual average. This upward trend is alarming.

“There have been 84 structural fires this year as compared to 70 during the same period in 2019. Since the recent commissioning of Lami Fire Station on August 12 until September 7, NFA attended to 14 residential structural fires and one commercial fire, which was Courts in Nadi. That is 15 significant structural fires in only 24 days is a concern.”

Calls can be made from any network without any charges. Ms Kumar has also urged parents and the public to cut down on prank calls as well

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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