The National Fire Authority (NFA) attended to a total of 3327 emergency cases of structural fires in 2022 compared with 3398 recorded in 2021.
This, according to Local Government Minister Maciu Katamotu Nalumisa during the NFA’s 2023 passing-out parade.
He said 55 per cent of the cases recorded last year were in the Western Division, 38 per cent in the Central and Eastern divisions, and 7 per cent in the North.
Mr Nalumisa said 90 per cent of structural fire cases were residential homes leaving 129 families homeless.
He added for the first three months of this year, firefighters attended to 28 structural fires, 93 per cent of which were residential homes.
“This means that 26 families were displaced and lost their homes in the first three months of this year,” Mr Nalumisa said.
He said the figures were alarming because fires at home could be easily avoided if people took the necessary precautions to ensure their homes were safe.
“We all have the responsibility to ensure fire safety no matter where we are, let us work together in creating a fire safe community.”
He said government had programs in place to assist vulnerable families affected by house fires.
“The government has provided assistance of up to $5000 to assist low and middle-income families to rebuild their homes destroyed by fire.”
He urged Fijians to practice fire preventative measures to avoid loss of life and property.
