THERE was a moment of silence yesterday at the Labasa Fire Station as firemen remembered their comrade Etika Matavesi.
Northern Fire Officer John Pillay said firefighters from Taveuni, Savusavu and Taveuni gathered in Labasa to bid farewell to their comrade who died after being sick for some time.
Mr Pillay said Mr Matavesi would be missed by personnel at the station and the National Fire Authority as a whole.
"He was a diligent worker who will be missed.
"His smiling face was his signature wherever he was," he said. "Wherever he was there was laughter and jokes as people took time off from a hectic work day in the Labasa fire station.
"Mr Matavesi who hailed from Kocoma Village in Qamea served in the Fiji Police Force before joining the NFA where he spent 20 years."
Mr Matavesi worked in Suva, Savusavu, Labasa and Seaqaqa before falling ill early this year.
"NFA also takes this time to thank the family of Mr Matavesi for their support to one of our colleagues," he said.
Mr Matavesi is survived by his wife and six children.