Delayed fire reporting is emerging as a serious issue, leading to preventable loss of life and increased damage to property. Aliki Bia, a member of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, raised alarms about a troubling trend where individuals opt to share fire incidents on social media rather than promptly contacting the National Fire Authority (NFA). This practice hampers emergency response efforts at critical moments.
Bia stressed that firefighters frequently bear the brunt of public frustration for their delayed responses, despite the hazardous conditions they confront while managing emergency situations. “I’ve seen that a lot of people tend to put it up on their social media first, rather than calling NFA, taking the first step to call NFA. And I know at times there’s some fire that does happen on social media because people fail to call NFA at the same time that it happened,” she noted.
A recent tragic example highlighted by NFA Acting CEO Joel Israel involved a deadly fire in Nakasi, where firefighters were made aware of the incident through social media a full ten minutes before anyone initiated a call for help. “So we attended, we did what we wanted to do, we managed to douse the flames, but unfortunately, we lost two lives. What would be the difference if the public were well educated and the awareness is up high? First thing they see is fire, they call 910,” Israel emphasized.
Israel underscored the critical nature of quick action, pointing out that even a two-minute delay can drastically diminish the chances of survival. He further warned that unauthorized building extensions and the improper use of residential properties as storage spaces are escalating fire hazards, putting both residents and firefighters in jeopardy.
Raising public awareness about the importance of immediate reporting can significantly improve safety outcomes and reduce both casualties and damage. Increasing education on fire safety measures stands to save lives and protect communities, underscoring the urgent need for changes in how the public engages with emergency situations.