Another house in Vunivau, Labasa, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second incident in just one month. Mohammed Irshad, the homeowner, was working in Suva at the time of the incident. Fortunately, his wife and two children were at home but managed to escape without injuries.
Irshad, who is 31 years old, expressed his disbelief upon receiving the alarming news from his wife. “The fire broke out between 7 am and 7:30 am,” he said. He plans to return home soon to arrange for temporary housing until he can gather funds to rebuild their lives.
As a lorry driver, Irshad has lived in the three-bedroom house for eight years. While he is uncertain about the total damages, he lamented the years it took to amass their household belongings.
According to the National Fire Authority, two fire trucks and nine personnel from the Labasa Fire Station were dispatched to respond to the emergency call. Divisional Police Commander North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, stated that an investigation has been initiated, but the cause of the fire remains unclear.