A house in Vunivau, Labasa, was destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second such incident in the area within a month. The homeowner, Mohammed Irshad, was at work in Suva when the fire occurred. Fortunately, his wife and two children were at home but managed to escape without injury.
Mr. Irshad, 31, was shocked to receive the distressing news from his wife about the fire, which took place between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM. He plans to return home soon to arrange for temporary lodging until they can secure funds for rebuilding the house. The three-bedroom home was where he had lived for eight years, and while he is unsure of the total damages, he emphasized that it took years to accumulate their household items.
The National Fire Authority responded with two trucks and nine officers from the Labasa Fire Station following an emergency call. Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander North, confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire has been initiated, although the cause remains unknown.