Probe Underway into Destructive Fire at Old CWM Maternity Unit

A full investigation is underway, with fire and Police officials combing through debris to find clues about how a fire broke out at the old Suva Maternity Unit opposite the Colonial War Memorial Hospital mortuary.

The National Fire Authority (NFA) responded swiftly after receiving the first emergency call at 4:24am Saturday. NFA officers from Suva, Nakasi, Lami, and Valelevu stations turned up at the scene within minutes only to find the structure already engulfed in flames.

NFA chief executive Puamau Sowane confirmed that while the building was unoccupied, it suffered near-total destruction, with an estimated 98 per cent of the structure lost.

The preliminary damage bill has been placed at around $100,000.

"Our team of investigators are in progress and will team up with the Police forensic (unit) to try and locate the origin of the fire and the probable cause," Mr Sowane said.

"Every fire has a story and always leaves a trail of how it started and where it started. In the next coming days, we will be able to form an opinion."

Energy Fiji Limited and the Water Authority of Fiji were also alerted early in the response to manage electricity shutdown and ensure steady water supply.

Fire-fighters deployed multiple hose lines and tank supplies in a race against time to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent properties.

Officials on the ground noted that the fire spread rapidly, fuelled by the building's old wooden structure and gusty early morning winds.

"The wind significantly accelerated the fire's spread, complicating containment efforts," Mr Sowane said.

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