A house in Vunivau, Labasa, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, marking the second instance in just a month. Mohammed Irshad, the homeowner, was in Suva for work when the incident occurred. His wife and their two children were present at home but managed to escape without injury.
Mr. Irshad, 31, expressed his surprise and distress upon receiving the alarming news from his wife. He disclosed that the fire broke out between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. “I’ll be returning home soon to make arrangements for temporary accommodation until we can secure funds to rebuild,” he stated.
Having lived in the three-bedroom house for eight years, Irshad, who works as a lorry driver, said he was unsure of the total damage cost, noting that it took years to amass their household items.
The National Fire Authority reported that two fire trucks and nine officers from the Labasa Fire Station responded to the emergency call. Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, the Divisional Police Commander North, confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, though the source remains unknown.