Family Escapes Fire with Minor Injuries

Sanjay Nand is counting his lucky stars after his family escaped when the house they were renting caught fire on Tiri Road in Nadawa, Nasinu, yesterday.

“The fire started in the middle room, but I’m happy that my wife, mother-in-law, and niece all escaped with minor burns,” Mr Nand said.

“My wife was the only one taken to the hospital for treatment.”

How it happened?

Mr Nand said he was at work when he received the call that the house was on fire.

“When I arrived, the house was still ablaze, and my family members were outside,” he said.

“I’m a tenant and pay $1000 for rent for the three-bedroom house, but I do not know the estimated damage from this fire.”

Mr Nand thanked the firefighters who managed to control the flames preventing them from spreading to neighbouring houses.

“When my wife entered the bedroom, the mattress was already on fire, but how the fire started is still unknown,” he said.

“From the bedroom, the flames spread to the roof of the house.”

Sanjay Nand. Photo: Asenaca Ratu

Mr Nand said that his family usually prays daily at their home.

“The diya (lamp symbolically lit during prayers, rituals, and ceremonies) is used for prayer,” he explained.

“But it’s not certain if that caused the fire because if it had fallen, it would have landed on the tray.”

The National Fire Authority (NFA) confirmed that they received a fire call; the team from Valelevu responded to the incident and contained the blaze. The initial cause of the fire is still unknown while investigations continue.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident.

She said that two women and a child were able to evacuate to safety.

“The cause of the fire has not been established, and we await the fire report from the NFA,” Ms Naisoro said.

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