NFA: Average 141 homes destroyed by fire annually

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Fire destroyed a home in Lomolomo Lautoka. Picture: REINAL CHAND/FT FILE

An average of 141 homes was destroyed by fire on an annual basis over the past five years.

The National Fire Authority noted these statistics as it revealed that a total of 706 homes properties were lost to fire incidences over a five-year period from 2018 to 2022.

NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said there was also a 9 per cent hike in the number of structural fires in 2022 at 144 compared with 132 structural fires in 2021.

“There was a 28 per cent increase in the number of small property fires that occurred in 2022 at 179 compared to 140 in 2021,” Mr Sowane said.

“Small property fires involve EFL metre box fires at homes, electrical short circuits and outside kitchen fires that the brigade has been able to put out quickly mainly because the NFA was called in early and fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.”

Mr Sowane also noted an analysis of statistics for a five-month period this year, which revealed that the main causes of fires had been electrical-related (33 per cent), arson (18 per cent) and indiscriminate use of matches and careless disposal of lit cigarettes (11 per cent), followed by unattended cooking (9 per cent).

“These fire causes can be avoided if people take extra precautions and ensure the correct use of electrical appliances, avoid overloading of power boards and switch off appliances when not in use.

“Homeowners are urged to ensure they have their house wiring checked by a licensed electrician.

“There is evidence that people have used old electrical wires to wire up their homes, which have led to overheating of electrical wires because of poor insulation, causing fires.”

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