Fire destroys vacant Vatuwaqa classroom

A fire has destroyed a classroom building at Vatuwaqa Primary School in Fiji, with the National Fire Authority investigating the incident that occurred after midnight.

Firefighters responded quickly and brought the blaze under control within an hour, successfully preventing it from spreading to adjacent buildings. The estimated cost of the damage is $60,000. The property, owned by the Ministry of Education, was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Preliminary investigations suggest the classroom had remained vacant since a previous fire, and no security personnel were present. No injuries were reported.

Puamau Sowane, Chief Executive of the National Fire Authority, expressed deep concern over the rising number of fires involving vacant buildings. He warned that these incidents place unnecessary pressure on emergency services and pose a significant threat to surrounding communities. Sowane highlighted that unattended vacant properties often become targets for illegal entry, vandalism, arson, and other dangerous activities, with the potential for fires to spread rapidly and endanger lives and property.

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A vacant building is not harmless. These properties can quickly become hotspots for illegal entry, vandalism, arson, and other unsafe activities. Once a fire starts, it can spread rapidly to neighbouring homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, placing lives and property at risk.