Ten days into the new year and the country has already recorded four house fires, leaving 16 people homeless.

The numbers have compelled National Fire Authority CEO Puamau Sowane to issue an impassioned plea for homeowners to “be on alert”.

“A lot of fires can be easily avoided if we practice fire safety in our homes,” he said, as he identified electrical faults as one of the main causes of fires.

“So the NFA’s advice is to find a licensed electrician to carry out work on your home.

“If you’ve lived in your home for more than 20 years, please change your wiring because of wear and tear.

“Ensure that unused appliances are turned off and that you fully turn off your stoves after cooking.”

Unattended cooking was one of the major causes of residential fire last year. With statistics showing that quite a few homes were vacant when they caught fire, he advised people to “let a relative or neighbour know, so they can keep an eye on your home”.