The Lautoka City Council (LCC) suspects arson as the cause of fi re at the Vunato rubbish dump site.
Council chief executive officer Mohammed Anees Khan said the blaze started about 5pm on Sunday.
Sugar City residents took to social media to raise their concerns as thick, toxic smoke continued to blanket major parts of the city over the past two days.
“We suspect arson and the same has been reported to the police for their appropriate actions,” Mr Khan said.
“The LCC has been using its machinery (excavator and bulldozer) to create firebreaks to isolate the fire and douse it using water pumped from nearby creeks.
“We have also dug up sumps at various locations to assist with the pumping of water and dousing.”
Mr Khan said the National Fire Authority had also been notified and consulted on the fire fighting methodology and they constantly monitored and guided the council on this.
He said the council was working to rectify the problem at the earliest in the best interest of the public and Lautoka community.
Police media officer Wame Bautolu said while no official report had been lodged, they were working with the police on the developments of this major fire.
Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy said the toxic smoke from the blaze was a health hazard for residents who were asthmatic and had respiratory problems.
