On Sunday afternoon, a fire caused significant damage to parts of the Sportslotto office in Salelologa, Savai’i. This information was confirmed by Fire Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga in response to inquiries from this newspaper.

The incident, which was initially shared through social media posts later that evening, prompted immediate action from local fire services.

According to Commissioner Tanuvasa, the fire was first reported by security personnel stationed at the Salelologa market. The initial response came from the Savai’i fire team, who were dispatched to the scene. Tanuvasa provided an update on the situation, revealing that the fire originated from a sewing shop located adjacent to the Sportslotto office.

Preliminary reports suggest that the blaze began inside the sewing shop, which was operated by a local resident. The fire quickly spread from the shop to parts of the neighbouring Sportslotto office. Fortunately, the firefighters were able to contain the fire before it could completely destroy the office, though significant damage was reported. The sewing shop, however, was extensively damaged and is considered a total loss.

The Fire Commissioner noted that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Initial findings point to a potential fault with an electric sewing machine, as it has been reported that the shop was in operation until late on Saturday night. "We are continuing our investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported," Tanuvasa stated.

In addition to this incident, Tanuvasa confirmed that the fire at Salelologa was the only reported emergency during the long weekend. The swift response from the fire services helped prevent further damage, and efforts are now focused on assessing the full impact and restoring the affected areas.