News

Over 70 firefighters battle to contain fire at Paradise Beverages building

November 27, 2018 3:50 am

More than seventy firefighters are still battling to contain a fire which broke out from the archives area of Paradise Beverages building in Walu Bay, Suva this afternoon.

National Fire Authority, Chief Fire Officer, Qionilau Moceitai confirmed to FBC news that 75 firefighters including forty trainees have been called in to assist and stop the blaze from spreading to the rest of the building.

Moceitai says firefighters from Suva, Valelevu, Nausori, Korovou and Navua have been called in to assist.

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Paradise Beverages General Manager, Mike Spencer confirms the fire broke out at around 2pm.

Spencer says staff were inside the building when the fire started.

”Fire started in a small storage room, archives room and we would have over one hundred people on site at the time of the fire. Staff evacuated within few minutes .NFA was here within few minutes and we thank them for being so prompt.“

FBC News spoke to a staff who says they thought it was just another fire alarm, however when they came out of the building – they saw smoke coming out from the archives area.

Meanwhile, police officers are redirecting traffic from Walu Bay and Reservoir Road roundabouts as efforts to contain the fire at the South Pacific Beverages factory continues.

Officers from the National Fire Authority and from the Totogo Police Station are currently at the scene.

The public are requested to be patient and cooperate with officers on the ground.