The National Fire Authority (NFA) is once again encouraging bus owners to service their buses well and ensure that proper electrical repairs are done by qualified automotive electricians.
The call comes after a 30-seater Shaolin model bus, belonging to Baitul Transport Company Limited of Toko, Tavua caught fire along Arya Samaj Road, Vatukoula on Tuesday afternoon.
NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane said “Under the National Fire Service Act, vehicles are classified as properties and bus owners must ensure that fire safety measures and mitigations are strictly followed for the safety of bus drivers and passengers.”
Mr Sowane said the NFA National Command Centre (NCC) received a fire emergency call at 4.41pm and alerted the Tavua Fire Station crew about the incident.
He said the fire crew were deployed immediately and arrived at the scene at 4.49pm to find the bus fully engulfed in flames.
“The brigade immediately used its tank supply to extinguish the fire.
“The NFA also acknowledges the assistance of the Goldmine Rescue crew, who also responded to the incident and provided water from their tank supply.
“No casualties were reported and the bus, which was not insured, sustained around 70 per cent to 80 per cent damage.”
The bus driver had escaped unhurt after taking a school trip from Tavua to Vatukoula, dropping students off and was returning to Tavua when the bus caught fire.
