Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Another major fire occurred last Friday afternoon, July 17, 2026, this time in Ottoville — in a family compound.  According to witnesses who were on hand, helping to put out the fire, two (2) of the three homes that burned were gutted by fire, while the third home was partially burned. No one was injured.

It’s alleged that low water pressure, strong gusts of wind, and slow response from the Fire Department contributed to the fire spreading swiftly through the homes.

Fourteen people are reported to be displaced, of which 8 are children. The 6 adults include an 88-year-old elderly grandmother, whose house was one of those totally gutted by the fire.

Faipule Fagaima Larry Sanitoa explained that Tafuna’s Pulenu’u Liz Taliloa  assessed on Friday the family’s well-being, noting that she said “they are distraught, yet are in good emotional state.”

TEMCO was notified, and the Red Cross team visited the fire grounds to provide help, according to Ms Taliloa.

A call for help with donations of water, food, soap and clothing for the displaced families has gone out to the community. Essential basic needs listed are:

Clothing 

Shoes/slippers 

Water

Food (Canned goods, Rice, Flour, Sugar, noodles) 

Soap (hygiene products, baby wipes, washing detergent) 

Toothbrush /tooth paste 

Sleeping mats

blankets/bedsheets 

Towels

Toilet paper

Contacts for donations and deliveries are: Helen @782-3855 or Liz Taliloa - Tafuna Pulenuu 252-5897.

Helen Amituna’i is acting as the family’s representative. She and her husband with their 6 children are part of the 14 family members that were displaced.

Fagaima also pointed out that the donated clothes remaining from the Fagaima fire that were not needed could be sorted out for the family members in Ottovile.

The rash of fires currently happening on Tutuila have been the subject of concern in the community. To date, there have now been 10 fires since last year August. At least two of the fires are being investigated as arson, however there has been no official word exactly which fires these are.

Samoa News reported last week that Fagaima as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Public Safety Committee has requested reports on at least eight (8) of the fires reported since last year August from the Department of Search and Rescue (DSAR), of which the Fire Department is a part.

DSAR responded to the Tualauta faipule’s request, asking that Fagaima submit “a formal letter of request to the Office of the Governor for the fire investigation reports…”