A house in Vunivau, Labasa, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second such incident in the area within a month. The homeowner, Mohammed Irshad, was working in Suva at the time of the incident. His wife and their two children were home during the fire but were able to escape without injury.
Mr. Irshad, 31, expressed his disbelief after receiving the alarming news from his wife. “The fire occurred between 7 am and 7:30 am,” he stated. He plans to return home soon to organize temporary housing while they seek financial support to rebuild their home.
Irshad, who has worked as a lorry driver, lived in the three-bedroom house for eight years. While he is unsure about the overall damage costs, he mentioned that it took years for him to gather their household belongings.
The National Fire Authority reported dispatching two fire trucks and nine officers from the Labasa Fire Station in response to the emergency call. Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander North, confirmed that an investigation is underway, although the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.