Sanjay Nand is expressing gratitude after his family narrowly escaped a fire that broke out in their rented home on Tiri Road in Nadawa, Nasinu, yesterday.
Mr. Nand reported that the fire originated in the middle room of the house, but fortunately, his wife, mother-in-law, and niece all managed to escape with only minor burns. “My wife was the only one taken to the hospital for treatment,” he stated.
He was at work when he received the alarming news about the fire. “When I arrived, the house was still ablaze, and my family members were outside,” he recalled. Mr. Nand, who rents the three-bedroom house for $1,000 a month, is uncertain about the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
He expressed his gratitude towards the firefighters who responded quickly and contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes. “When my wife entered the bedroom, the mattress was already on fire, but the cause of the fire remains unknown,” Mr. Nand added, noting that the flames spread from the bedroom to the roof.
Mr. Nand shared that his family usually participates in daily prayers at their home, using a diya (a lamp) during rituals. However, he is uncertain if the diya may have caused the fire, pointing out that if it had fallen, it would have landed on the tray.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) confirmed they received reports of the fire and dispatched a team from Valelevu to manage the situation. The initial cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the details of the incident, noting that two women and a child were able to evacuate safely. “The cause of the fire has not been established, and we are awaiting the fire report from the NFA,” Ms. Naisoro said.