Three families have been left homeless after a devastating fire swept through a subdivided house in Natabua, Lautoka, early yesterday morning. The blaze reportedly began around 8:30 AM in one of the flats located at the rear of the house, where an elderly woman and her niece were living.
A tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the morning’s events, stating that the elderly woman usually leaves her home every weekend. On this day, a taxi was seen arriving to take her away while her niece was still asleep in their flat. Neighbors alerted her of the intense fire, prompting panic as they rushed to escape. Despite her efforts to extinguish the flames with a bucket of water, the situation quickly became unmanageable.
Fortunately, all residents managed to evacuate safely. The tenant expressed dismay over the situation, sharing, “Nothing of ours was saved, everything got destroyed,” but added that neighbors helped salvage some belongings like clothing and kitchenware. The families affected have since relocated to their in-laws in Tomuka for temporary shelter.
Divisional Police Commander West, SSP Iakobo Vaisewa, confirmed the incident and noted that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
This unfortunate event follows an earlier fire incident on Nasoki Street in Lautoka, where a similar multi-tenant structure also suffered substantial damage. In both cases, the National Fire Authority (NFA) responded promptly to control the flames, preventing them from affecting surrounding properties. Witness reports highlighted the community’s relief that no injuries were reported in either incident, underscoring a communal spirit of support during these challenging times.
As communities band together, there’s a growing dialogue on the importance of fire safety measures and preparedness. The resilience shown by affected families paves the way for advocating enhanced safety protocols and encourages neighbors to support each other in the face of adversity.