NFA Wants Bigger Water Pipes
“Investigations will be carried out to identify the origin and probable causes of the fire.”
Thursday 29 February 2024 | 14:10
National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer Puamau Sowane has suggests the size of water mains or pipes that feed fire hydrants be increased.
This is particularly within the city, town and fire boundaries, and in build-up areas.
He made this suggestion after firefighters faced problems when trying to fight the fire at the Defence Club in Suva on Tuesday.
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The building housed offices, a bar, two squash courts and an office for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Sowane said he could not overemphasise the importance of having fire hydrants feeding directly from water mains for effective firefighting.
“We can have the latest firefighting machines and the best skilled firefighters in the world, but without a good water supply, all become useless,” Mr Sowane said.
Photo: Kelera Sovasiga
It required WAF to carry out urgent valve operations to increase water pressures, thus assisting NFA in firefighting.
Mr Soderberg said with the fire at the Defence Club in Suva WAF received the notification call from NFA at 8.40am.
“WAF duty Supervisor was immediately mobilised from Wailoku Depot to the site of the fire to assist the NFA in locating the fire hydrants in close proximity of the fire event,” Mr Soderberg said.
As part of the asset renewal programme included in the Water Sector 2050 Strategy, WAF is proposing to progressively upgrade the aged and undersized pipes within the Suva City area subject to budgetary allocations by the Government.
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