Thirteen people have died in fires so far this year, with the latest fatal incident being a house fire in Levuka Settlement, off Bureta Street in Samabula North, which claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman yesterday afternoon.
Of the 13 fire-related fatalities, six were women and seven were men, with 12 adults and one child among the victims, raising renewed concerns about fire safety across the country.
The National Fire Authority says it received an emergency call at around 4pm reporting a structural fire, and two fire trucks from the Suva Fire Station were immediately dispatched. Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes to find a two-bedroom house fully engulfed in flames.
The authority says that during firefighting operations, crews were informed that a victim was trapped inside the burning structure. Despite extensive efforts, including the use of water relay systems and a nearby fire hydrant, firefighters later discovered the young woman dead inside the property.
The house, a corrugated iron structure, sustained about 95 per cent damage.
The NFA also stated that the house, which was not insured, is owned by 70-year-old Shushila Wati and was rented by 47-year-old Ajay Raju, who works as a barber.
Acting NFA Chief Executive Officer, Joel Israel says investigations into the cause of the fire are underway, adding that their thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young woman who lost her life in the tragic incident.
