Five left homeless after weekend fires in Lautoka

The Lautoka Ratepayers Association has expressed concern over the increasing number of structural fires, not only in Lautoka but across the country.

Association president Narayan Reddy said some house fires could be linked to rising fuel prices.

“People may resort to open-fire cooking, which can easily lead to structural fires. The price of gas has increased drastically in the country,” Mr Reddy said.

His comments follow two separate fires that destroyed homes in Lovu and Lomolomo Hillside in Lautoka over the weekend.

National Fire Authority chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said unattended cooking remains a major cause of residential fires and urged members of the public never to leave cooking unattended.

The two incidents left five people homeless.

NFA crews quickly established firefighting operations using multiple hose deliveries and successfully contained one of the blazes, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties.

One of the houses sustained an estimated 90 per cent damage.

“Initial investigations revealed that the property was occupied by a family of four comprising two adults and two children. Information gathered at the scene indicated that the owner was intoxicated and left cooking unattended before leaving the residence,” Mr Sowane said.

“At the time of the incident, the owner’s wife and children were staying at a relative’s home. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, the fire displaced two adults and two children, who are now without a home.”

Mr Sowane said the incident was another reminder of the devastating consequences of unattended cooking and the dangers of operating cooking appliances while under the influence of alcohol.

“Far too many families have suffered the loss of their homes, belongings and sense of security because of fires that could have been prevented,” he said.

“Unattended cooking remains one of the most common causes of residential fires attended by the National Fire Authority. The risk becomes even greater when a person is intoxicated, as alcohol can impair judgment, reduce awareness and affect a person’s ability to respond quickly to an emergency.”

Mr Sowane said the NFA continued to record a concerning number of residential fires nationwide and urged the public to remain vigilant.

The authority is also reminding the public to call emergency number 910 at the first sign of a fire. Early reporting allows firefighters to respond quickly and increases the likelihood of saving lives and property.

The NFA Fire Investigation Team will continue investigations to determine the exact cause of the fires.