Neighbour mourns fire victims, counts $1m loss

Zion Automotive manager Reuben Singh, who regularly helped his 48-year-old landlord with shopping and medical appointments because she had a disability, is mourning her death and that of her 10-year-old adopted son after a fire destroyed their Baka Place home in Laucala Beach last Saturday.

"We were pretty close because she had a disability. We helped with her shopping and groceries and took her to doctor's appointments. We became very close," Mr Singh told the Fiji Sun.

Mr Singh said he arrived at his workshop about 8am and found the upper flat already engulfed in flames. The National Fire Authority arrived about 10 to 15 minutes later.

By then, he said, the fire had spread to three other properties, including his workshop.

Mr Singh estimated his losses at nearly $1 million. They included three unregistered vehicles, a bus, an unregistered 12-wheeler truck, customer vehicles awaiting repairs, and all of his tools and equipment.

"Everything was destroyed. There's nothing to cover all that," he said.

He said three other tenants, including an air-conditioning business and a kava-pounding operator, also lost their livelihoods in the fire.

Police said a joint investigation with the National Fire Authority into the cause of the fire is underway.