THE National Fire Authority has expanded its community fire safety outreach program to prevent fire occurrences in communities.
Since last Monday, NFA reached out to the greater areas in the central and eastern divisions which included villages and settlements in Verata in Tailevu.
"To-date, the total number of structural fires stands at 39 which is a great concern to the NFA," said NFA's chief executive officer John O'Connor.
He said the authority's main focus during the community house to house visit was to educate the members of the community on the major causes of structural fires which include electrical, unattended cooking, children playing with matches and poor placement of mosquito coils, candles and diya.
"Our main focus is to drive a change in the attitude of the members of the community towards fire safety," he said.
"Members of the community always have the perception that their property will not catch fire and this is the attitude that NFA is working very hard to change and raise awareness that if members of the community do not exercise care, they can also be victims of property fires."
Similar house to house community awareness is also being undertaken in all the districts to educate members of the public on fire prevention in their homes.
"NFA develops and delivers a range of community safety initiatives and prevention programs in order to educate the communities on the prevention of potential fire hazards or minimising the devastating impact of fires which will avoid unnecessary loss of homes, basic necessities and enhance the safety of human life," Mr O'Connor said. The house to house fire safety awareness visit in Tailevu ended last Friday.