THE National Fire Authority (NFA) plans to build a 10-storey headquarters at Komo Park in Samabula, with a disaster command centre designed to serve as a national and regional hub for emergency response.
NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said the project was part of the authority’s five-year strategic plan, running from this year to 2031.
“Since the establishment of National Fire Authority in 1995, we have been using the Suva Fire Station as our headquarters,” he said.
“As of now, because of the growth, we have grown in many folds over the years. We need space.”
Mr Sowane said the authority had acquired a two-acre land at Komo Park, with a full lease secured, and had appointed an architectural consultant to finalise the headquarters’ plans.
“We are looking at constructing a 10-story building up at Komo Park.
“In that headquarters, we will also have space for our command centre, and that command centre will be converted to become a national hub or regional hub for interagency, where all our agency departments can come together, converging in that space, use the space and the equipment during a disaster.”
However, Mr Sowane said securing funding remained a key challenge, with the authority exploring commercial loans and donor assistance to finance the development.
“We have started that talking with financial institutions, and one thing great about our Act is that it allows us to also go and use commercial loans.”
He said the NFA planned to rent out some of the building’s spaces to recover costs and repay loans.
Mr Sowane said they had also approached several embassies about potential support, saying the project’s regional benefits could attract donors.
“It’s very interesting because not only it will impact nationally, but also regionally, because we are also planning to use that as a as a regional hub,” he said.
National Fire Authority chief executive officer Puamau Sowane (third from left) and Housing Minister Maciu Nalumisa with guests in front of the new training centre in Nakasi last week. NFA is planning to build a 10-storey headquarters at Komo Park, with a disaster command centre designed to serve as a national and regional hub for emergency response Picture: RAKESH KUMAR
