A family in Vunivau, Labasa, suffered a devastating loss as their home, built over 45 years, was destroyed by fire last Friday night. Prasheel Naicker, 27, reported that his father, grandmother, and uncle were inside the house at the time of the blaze, which reportedly began in the prayer room and spread rapidly to the roof.

Naicker mentioned that if the National Fire Authority (NFA) had responded more swiftly, they might have salvaged some belongings. The fire was first noticed by two passersby who alerted his family. Despite Naicker’s efforts to contact the NFA and even visiting the local fire station, the response came too late to prevent the complete loss of the $200,000 property.

This incident marks the second house fire in the Northern Division within a short time frame, following another fire on New Year’s Day in Waiqele, Labasa. That fire also resulted in total loss, as homeowners were abroad, and investigations are underway to determine the cause.

The combined losses from these recent fires have highlighted serious concerns about fire safety in the region, where resources and response capabilities are often limited due to geographic challenges. Puamau Sowane, the CEO of NFA, emphasized the need for improved fire safety infrastructure and community awareness, particularly in rural areas.

In the face of adversity, the Naicker family is currently staying with relatives and expresses hope that their ordeal will bring attention to the urgent need for better fire safety measures. Local authorities are committed to learning from these incidents to foster a more vigilant and prepared community, reinforcing the spirit of support and resilience among affected families.

This tragedy presents an opportunity for change and improvement in fire safety protocols, hoping to prevent similar incidents in the future and to better protect families in vulnerable areas.