The National Fire Authority chief executive officer Puamau Sowane is alarmed with the number of home fires recorded at the start of 2021.

“We are just 20 days into the New Year and the NFA has already attended to six fire incidents around the country,” he said.

Mr Sowane’s comments come after the recent house fire in Nadawa, Nasinu, on Tuesday night.

“We cannot be careless about fire safety, particularly during these trying times when our economy has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Yasa,” Mr Sowane said.

“A fire threatens everyone’s lives and properties and we should be mindful of our neighboring homes and properties when it comes to fire prevention.”

Meanwhile, brothers Prem Prakash, 62, and Johnny Michael, 48, of Lairo Road in Nadawa lost everything inside their two-bedroom home.

Mr Michael said he had just cooked their food and their dog’s food, had a cup of coffee, showered and left for a friend’s house and then the supermarket when he received the call from his neighbour.

“The fire fighters came 15 to 20 minutes after we had called and we were told that they had gone in the wrong direction.”

But the authority said the Valelevu Fire team immediately responded and arrived at the scene at 7.14pm.

The crew quickly established two deliveries of water from the fire truck.

Mr Michael said his brother worked as a heavy gauge welder and had his machinery destroyed in the fire.

Johnny Michael, outside his house on January 20, 2021. Photo: Fonua Talei

He claimed damages were $120, 000.

“My brother has been living in this house since 1993 and I had just came to stay with him five years ago,” he said.

He said luckily the fire did not spread to other houses in the neighbourhood.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj