Fire guts old Suva shelter for the poor

A building that once served as a home for Suva's poor and homeless was gutted by fire today, with thick smoke and flames drawing alarmed onlookers along one of the capital's busiest streets.

The blaze broke out at the old St Vincent Home on Brown Street, a shelter opened in 2020 by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to provide refuge for the homeless and those left vulnerable by hardship, including those affected by job losses and poverty.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, and police cordoned off the area, temporarily restricting access along Brown Street.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. No injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing.