Sanjay Nand is grateful that his family escaped unharmed when their rented house on Tiri Road in Nadawa, Nasinu caught fire yesterday. Nand reported that the fire originated in the middle room, and while his wife, mother-in-law, and niece sustained minor burns, only his wife was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Nand was at work when he learned of the fire. Upon arriving home, he found the house engulfed in flames, but his family had safely made it outside. He mentioned that he pays $1000 in rent for the three-bedroom house and is currently unaware of the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
He expressed gratitude to the firefighters who responded and managed to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes. Nand shared that when his wife entered the bedroom, a mattress was already ablaze, but the cause of the fire remains unclear. The flames quickly spread to the roof of the house.
Nand noted that his family regularly engages in daily prayers at home and mentioned the diya, a lamp used in their rituals. However, he is uncertain if it contributed to the fire, as it would have fallen onto a tray if it had been involved.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) confirmed they received a fire alert and that a team from Valelevu promptly responded and contained the situation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro also confirmed that two women and a child exited the building safely, and the official cause remains to be determined, pending the fire report from the NFA.