New Year’s morning inferno

By Vatapuia Maiava 02 January 2018, 12:00AM

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) has launched an investigation to determine what started a fire that had consumed a large part of Fa’asootauloa Pati building at Vaitele on New Year’s morning.

The building houses the I&P NGG Cho Ltd Supermarket and bakery as well as another café.

The building was engulfed in flames in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

As of yesterday, the store had been completely emptied out leaving the burnt remains.

According to an eye witness who spoke to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity, the fire started on the top floor.

It occurred not long after the New Year’s church services had ended.

“It all happened at around one in the morning,” the eye witness said.

“We were just finishing up our church service here in Vaitele when we saw fire trucks rushed towards the fire." 

“We went and saw the top of the building on fire."

“The fire trucks were very fast and they did a good job in putting out the fire. The road was blocked off for about half an hour for the safety of the public.”

Efforts to get an official comment from the Fire and Emergency Services proved unsuccessful as of yesterday.

But an official told the Samoa Observer they have started their investigation.

By Vatapuia Maiava 02 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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