Authorities confirm suspected arson on Waidamudamu Bridge in Labasa

Arson is suspected in a fire that damaged the Waidamudamu Bridge in Vunimoli, Labasa, after firefighters found burning tyres on the wooden structure.

The National Fire Authority (NFA) said its Labasa team responded on Sunday night and found three tyres burning on top of the bridge, causing the wooden surface to catch fire. The authority said the circumstances indicated the fire may have been deliberately set.

NFA crews extinguished the fire and secured the scene before handing it over to police for further investigation.

An internal assessment by the NFA estimated that between five and 10 per cent of the bridge’s structure was damaged. The authority said any repair works or decisions on constructing a permanent bridge would be determined following assessments by structural engineers and relevant government ministries.

The NFA said the presence of burning tyres at the time of arrival led to suspicions of arson and confirmed that its officers responded promptly and contained the fire.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wame Bautolu said investigations were continuing to determine whether the incident constituted alleged arson.

The incident has disrupted daily travel for residents of Vunimoli. The wooden bridge, located along Nakorotari Road, serves as a bus route and is a key access point for residents travelling to and from Labasa Town.

When this newspaper visited the site earlier this week, the smell of kerosene was detected and tyres were found piled together using steel wire, which may assist police investigations.