12 people, including baby, homeless after Tavua fire

Twelve people, including a 10-month-old baby, have been left homeless after a fire destroyed a three-flat residential property in Tavua Town last Friday.

The fire also almost destroyed a neighbouring house. The fire started at about 2.39am at a property next to Tavua College.

Tavua firefighters arrived four minutes after the fire was reported and found the property fully engulfed in flames.

The property, owned by a Labasa-based owner and rented to three tenants, sustained an estimated 85 per cent structural damage. No one was injured.

National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said the incident showed how quickly a fire could spread and put several families and properties at risk.

“This incident is a concerning reminder that a fire can escalate within minutes and place multiple families and neighbouring properties at risk. The fact that the fire spread rapidly across the three flats and came close to an adjacent house demonstrates the importance of early detection, immediate evacuation and timely reporting of fires,” Mr Sowane said.

He urged households to make fire safety a continuous priority and ensure all family members knew what to do in an emergency.

“Fire safety awareness cannot be treated as a once-off exercise. Every household must understand the basic steps to prevent fires, know how to respond when a fire occurs and ensure that everyone, including children, knows how to evacuate safely.”

Mr Sowane also urged people to be cautious with electrical appliances, cooking, open flames and other potential sources of ignition.

The NFA investigation continues.