A house in Vunivau, Labasa, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second such incident in just one month. The homeowner, Mohammed Irshad, was away in Suva for work at the time of the fire. His wife and two children were at home but fortunately managed to escape without injury.
Irshad, 31, expressed his disbelief after receiving the alarming news from his wife. “It happened between 7 am and 7:30 am,” he stated. He plans to return home soon to arrange temporary accommodation for his family until they can gather the funds needed to rebuild their lives.
As a lorry driver, Irshad had made his home in the three-bedroom house for eight years. While he is uncertain about the total damages, he highlighted the years it took to accumulate their household belongings.
The National Fire Authority reported that following an emergency call, two fire trucks and nine officers from the Labasa Fire Station were dispatched to the scene. Additionally, Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, announced that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, which remains undetermined at this time.