A family faced a heartbreaking loss after their flat was destroyed in a fire on Nasoki Street in Lautoka yesterday afternoon. Still reeling from the incident, the family was not prepared to speak publicly about their situation.
Witnesses from the neighborhood shared their concerns and expressed relief that no one was injured in the blaze. The National Fire Authority (NFA) responded quickly, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
According to NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane, fire crews arrived at the scene at 12:03 PM and found a concrete and wooden building, which housed three flats, engulfed in flames.
“They immediately set up a delivery from the tank supply to contain the fire and prevent it from reaching adjacent houses just meters away,” Mr. Sowane noted.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control, utilizing water from a fire hydrant at Vitogo Parade, and remained at the scene until 4 PM to tackle remaining hotspots.
The property, owned by a 70-year-old woman, suffered complete structural damage, with two of the three flats occupied by tenants at the time of the incident. The total cost of the damage is still being assessed.