$200k House Destroyed in Fire
“The estimated cost of damage is around $200,000 and we are currently staying with their relative.
Monday 13 January 2025 | 10:49
Four-bedroom house destroyed in fire at Vunivau, Labasa on January 10, 2025. Photo: Shratika Naidu
A family lost their $200,000 home built over a span of 45 years at Vunivau, Labasa, last Friday night.
Prasheel Naicker, 27, said his father, grandmother and uncle were at home at the time of the incident.
He lamented that had the National Fire Authority responded on time, they could have at least saved part of the house or salvaged some of their belongings.
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“We had some relatives at home from the neighbour for evening gathering while I was out in Labasa Town at around 9pm,” Mr Naicker said.
“Two boys passing by the road saw fire coming from our prayer room spreading towards the roof and alerted my family.”
He said his uncle informed him to call the National Fire Authority (NFA) for help.
“After making two phone calls while I was in town, I also personally went to the Labasa fire station to alert the officers to move out quickly,” he said.
This is the second housefire in the North in a span of two weeks.
The first took place on New Year’s Day at Waiqele, Labasa.
“We couldn’t save anything from the house which was built over a span of 45 years,” he said
“The estimated cost of damage is around $200,000 and we are currently staying with their relative.
Mr Naicker can be contacted on 8064082.
Acting Divisional Police Commander (DPC) North Superintendent of Police (SP) Eroni Soqosoqo said they had attended to the report and investigation was continuing.
NFA also confirmed that they attended to the call and investigation was on-going.
Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj
