A devastating house fire at Levuka Settlement in Samabula North has claimed the life of a young woman, bringing the total number of fire-related fatalities in Fiji this year to 13. The fire broke out yesterday afternoon, leading to urgent calls for help to the National Fire Authority around 4 PM.
Firefighters swiftly responded, with two fire trucks dispatched from the Suva Fire Station, arriving on the scene within minutes. They found a two-bedroom corrugated iron house fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival. During the firefighting operations, crews were made aware that someone was trapped inside the burning structure. Despite their best efforts to control the fire through the use of water relay systems and connections to a nearby fire hydrant, firefighters later discovered the body of a 20-year-old woman within the charred remains of the home.
The house, measuring approximately 10 by 11 meters, suffered extensive damage, with about 95 percent of the property destroyed. Owned by 70-year-old Shushila Wati, it was rented and occupied by 47-year-old barber Ajay Raju. Unfortunately, records reveal that the property was not insured.
Joel Israel, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Fire Authority, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and confirmed that a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway.
This tragic incident adds to the alarming tally of fire-related deaths in Fiji, where so far this year, six fatalities have been women and seven men, with the majority being adults.
The community is reminded to prioritize safety and ensure that homes are equipped with adequate fire safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.
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