Lautoka house fire prompts safety reminder from NFA

The National Fire Authority (NFA) has again warned the public about the dangers of unattended cooking after a house fire destroyed a family home in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.

The fire broke out at a residence on Vomo Street at about 3.30pm, despite drizzling weather conditions.

According to the NFA, two fire appliances were immediately dispatched from the Lautoka Fire Station, supported by eight firefighters and three ambulances.

Fire crews arrived at the scene within minutes and found the corrugated iron and timber house fully engulfed in flames.

Five occupants — three adults and two children — were inside the house at the time. All managed to escape safely and no injuries were reported.

NFA acting chief executive officer Joel Israel said the incident highlighted a serious and recurring national issue.

He said unattended cooking remained one of the leading and most preventable causes of residential fires in Fiji.

Preliminary information indicated the fire started after a kerosene stove was left unattended in the kitchen.

Mr Israel urged families to remain in the kitchen while cooking, keep flammable materials away from stoves, ensure cooking equipment was placed on stable surfaces, and keep children away from open flames.

He also stressed the importance of having a clear family escape plan and a designated meeting point outside the home.

The NFA will conduct a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The authority has again urged members of the public to exercise caution and immediately report all fire emergencies by calling 910.