First team to respond to major fire in Sigatoka Town arrived an hour after the fire started

The first team of firefighters to respond to the major fire in Sigatoka Town arrived at the scene one hour after the fire started.

However National Fire Authority Chief Fire Officer, Qionilau Moceitai maintains that firefighters tried to respond as quickly as possible to the fire in Sigatoka Town that destroyed Meenoos, Home and Living and Ravendra’s Supermarket and Restaurant and caused damages to Max Value Supermarket and Courts.

When questioned by Fijivillage on firefighters arriving at the fire scene one hour after the call was made knowing that the Sigatoka Fire Station is located in Sigatoka Town, Moceitai says that the Sigatoka Fire Station firefighters were attending to a fire call at Natadola Beach Resort when the call came in regarding the fire in Sigatoka Town.

Qionilau says that after being notified of the fire in Sigatoka Town, firefighters worked to get to the scene as fast as they could.

The Sigatoka Fire Station has confirmed that firefighters had received the call at 12.54pm while the call about the fire in Sigatoka Town was received at 1.50pm yesterday. 

Sigatoka Fire Station has also confirmed that due to the size of the fire in Sigatoka Town, assistance was sought from the Nadi and Korolevu Fire Stations.

Moceitai says two people were treated for smoke inhalation and there were no other reports of any injuries. 

He says that they have begun their investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire.