National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer Puamau Sowane has rejected claims that firefighters took two hours to reach a house fire in Navolau Village, Rakiraki, calling the reports exaggerated.
The blaze on Friday night claimed the life of a 26-year-old man who was allegedly locked inside the house. Villagers said they saw the man enter the home before the fire; it is understood he may have been intoxicated.
Mr Sowane said the scene was about 19 kilometres from the Rakiraki Fire Station.
“So, it’s quite a distance. Rakiraki received the station landline at 23.27, that is 27 minutes after 11,” he said.
“The brigade immediately responded with two appliances (vehicles), with five duty officers. So, upon arrival at 23.43 (11.43pm).”
He says NFA response times are electronically recorded.
“I think there was a misunderstanding there. So, they received a call at 23.27 (11.27pm) and they arrived at 23.43 (11.43pm), so there was a quick response. That was about 16 minutes, so their response time was around 16 minutes after they received the call.”
Mr Sowane said the deceased’s family members were away in Suva when the incident occurred.
“The cause of the fire will be determined after we have done the fire inspection.
“I cannot tell you whether the deceased was drunk; I’m not sure.
“He was seen by the villagers as he entered the house, and then later there was a fire, and then he was trapped inside. I’m not sure what happened.”
