A second house in Vunivau, Labasa, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second incident in just one month. The homeowner, Mohammed Irshad, was in Suva for work when the fire started. Thankfully, his wife and two children were at home but were able to escape without injuries.
The 31-year-old father expressed his shock upon receiving the distressing news from his wife. “It happened between 7 am and 7:30 am,” Mr. Irshad stated. He mentioned that he would be returning home soon to arrange for temporary accommodation until they could gather enough funds to rebuild.
As a lorry driver, Irshad had lived in the three-bedroom home for eight years. While he was uncertain about the total cost of the damages, he reflected on the years it took to accumulate their household items.
The National Fire Authority reported that two trucks and nine personnel from the Labasa Fire Station were dispatched to the scene following an emergency call. Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, confirmed that an investigation has been initiated, but the cause of the fire remains unclear.