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 away in Suva for work when the fire ignited. Fortunately, his wife and two children were at home but were able to escape without injury.
Mr. Irshad expressed his shock upon receiving a distressing call from his wife regarding the fire. He reported that the incident occurred between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM. “I’ll be returning home soon to make arrangements for temporary accommodation until we can secure funds to rebuild,” he stated.
The 31-year-old, who has worked as a lorry driver, lived in the three-bedroom house for eight years. While he is uncertain about the total cost of the damage, he mentioned that it took years to gather his household possessions.
The National Fire Authority responded quickly, sending two fire trucks and nine officers from the Labasa Fire Station to the emergency scene. Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander for the North, confirmed that an investigation has begun, although the cause of the fire remains undetermined.