It took 13 years for widower Premni to build her $50,000 worth wooden house for her two children.

All this money, effort and tireless sacrifices were blazed into ruins when a fire engulfed their two-bedroom house at Tabucola in Labasa around 7am yesterday.

The Sangam Nursing senior executive officer said she had invested all her savings to build a comfortable house for them to live in.

Premni said around 5.30am yesterday, she sat down for her morning devotion.

During her devotion, she read a Bible verse talking about temptation of faith, she flinched and sat nervously as she continued her devotion.

The fire is believed to have started from the kitchen.

“We have our kitchen outside, I think that’s where the fire started,” she said.

“It’s a consequence given that I had my devotion this morning and read about ‘temptation’. I know this is a temptation, and my faith is still strong.

“Around 7am when I was at work I received a call that the house was on fire.”

“I rushed back and saw that our house, my 13 years of patience and sacrifice going down the drain, Khalas! (Finish).”

Sobbing in tears while recounting her struggles, she shared that it would be hard for her to build her house again.

Ms Premni said there were many valuable items in the house, but all these were destroyed by the fire.

She had recently upgraded the house ahead of the festive season.

Her eldest daughter is in Suva working, while her youngest son is in class six.

“It’s festive season, and there are a lot of major celebrations coming up, and I’m left with this,” she said.

“It is going to be a big start again for us.”

Police 

Police spokesperson Wame Boutolu said: “It was a two-bedroom dwelling house owned by a senior executive officer of Sangam Nursing, of Tabucola.”

“House (was) completely destroyed with items, Time of fire is 7am, and it started from the kitchen.”

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