Nearby houses at Sukanaivalu Road in Nabua were saved in the nick of time after a two bedroom home was completely engulfed in flames yesterday.

Shocked neighbours stood around their homes looking at damaged windows and compounds that were affected by the fire.

Eye witness, Bale Tuwai, 34, claimed that they earlier saw an elderly woman burning an old mattress outside their newly-renovated home that morning.

Ms Tuwai said she later saw the old woman enter the house.

“We were outside and thought it was just rubbish burning outside their home, but we later saw the kitchen burning and we ran out to them to help them.

“We called out to her daughter who was in the living room and had to carry the old woman because she was in a state of shock.”

Ms Tuwai said they understand that only the old woman and her daughter were at home when the incident happened and alerted the neighbours.

The National Fire Authority (NFA) stated that the property fire emergency call alert was received by the Suva Fire Station around 10.37am.

“Upon arrival at 10.47am, the Fire Team saw the wooden structured house fully engulfed in flames.

“The Fire Team used deliveries of water from the fire trucks relayed from the fire hydrant in the area to extinguish the fire.”

NFA further stated that the fire destroyed the two bedroom house while the fire team saved other nearby houses in the area.

NFA investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.

The Fiji Sun sought an interview with the family yesterday, but they were unwilling to talk.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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