A vacant home on Tavakubu Back Road in Lautoka was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Monday, the National Fire Authority (NFA) confirmed, in the latest blaze to draw renewed warnings from fire officials about the risks posed by abandoned properties.
The single-storey structure, owned by 70-year-old Satiya Wati Singh, had not been occupied since 2015. The NFA said its command centre received an emergency call at about 4.30am and crews arrived on scene at approximately 4.45am to find the building fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly established a hose delivery line using water from the attending appliances to contain the blaze and protect neighbouring properties while further supplies were obtained.
NFA crews extinguished the fire using water from both responding appliances and by refilling from a nearby underground hydrant, which the authority said was located roughly three kilometres from the scene. Officials described the logistics of accessing that hydrant as part of the response operation; a full assessment of the damage and exact firefighting costs has not yet been released.
Initial information gathered at the scene indicated people had been seen earlier burning plastic sheathing from copper wire in the area. The NFA said that activity is believed to have may contributed to ignition, but Puamau Sowane, the agency’s chief executive officer, stressed a formal investigation will determine the precise cause. “It is believed that this activity may have contributed to the fire; however, a full investigation will be conducted by the National Fire Authority to determine the exact cause,” the NFA statement said.
Mr Sowane used the incident to reiterate long-standing concerns about poorly maintained and unsecured vacant buildings, saying they can attract illegal activity—such as theft, vandalism and open burning—that increases the fire risk. He urged property owners to secure entry points, maintain surrounding vegetation and combustible materials, and arrange regular checks by neighbours or caretakers. He also called on the public to report suspicious activities, especially open burning or trespassing, to reduce the chance of similar incidents.
The Lautoka house fire comes amid a series of recent blazes that have kept the NFA on alert. In early January, crews battled a heavily damaged house in Tacirua, prompting safety warnings about fire preparedness, and last year’s deadly Meigunyeh blaze in Nadi highlighted how security measures and combustible materials can impede escape and worsen outcomes. A prolonged fire at the Vunato landfill in Lautoka and an investigation linking that blaze to illegal scrap-metal activity have further underscored the challenges of preventing fire-related harm in urban and peri-urban settings.
The NFA said its inquiry into the Tavakubu Back Road fire is ongoing and will examine witness accounts and any physical evidence recovered from the site. No injuries were reported in initial statements; residents and nearby property owners are being advised to remain vigilant and to follow guidance from fire authorities regarding vacant properties.
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