NFA struggles with old trucks and limited funding as emergencies soars

Fiji's fire services face a crisis, with most of the National Fire Authority (NFA) fleet over 30 years old and nine of 54 trucks sidelined for months of repairs.

The current situation raises seri­ous concerns over NFA's emergency response times and public safety.

The urgency comes after a tragic Nakasi house fire last week killed a 60-year-old man and his son.

NFA teams were dispatched with­in 17 minutes of the call, but the building was already fully engulfed in flames. 

Acting chief executive officer Joel Israel told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs that the fleet relies heavily on second-hand vehicles from Australia and New Zealand, with scarce spare parts and high maintenance costs. 

Finance manager Sen Jeet said repair times of two to three months often forced the authority to borrow vehicles from other stations. 

The NFA, legislated to serve only municipal boundaries, frequently responds to incidents in rural areas. 

Officials now seek Cabinet approval to extend coverage legally, warning that current resources are insufficient for nationwide safety. 

Major expenditures, including salaries, imported protective gear, and firefighting equipment, strain the limited budget, with government funding covering just 25 per cent of costs. 

NFA data also show a sharp rise in fires outside municipal boundaries over the past five years, mainly from electrical faults, arson, and unattended cooking. 

The Parliamentary Committee acknowledged the NFA’s dedication but urged a review of legislation and increased funding to prevent future tragedies and safeguard communities across Fiji.

According to the 2025–26 National Budget Address by the Minister of Finance, the Ministry of Local Government received a total allocation of $35 million, including around $10.6 million specifically for the National Fire Authority.