3 people suffer minor burns after their house is completely destroyed in a fire

Three people of Buiduna Hill in Nausori suffered injuries when their four bedroom was completely destroyed by a fire this morning.

National Fire Authority CEO, Puamau Sowane says it is believed the fire was caused by a child playing with matches.

Sowane says officers and firefighters at the Nakasi Fire Station received a call at 8.03am and immediately responded, arriving at the scene at 8.28am.

On arrival they found the house fully engulfed in flames.

The nine-member crew, including a supporting tanker, managed to extinguish the fire but the wood and corrugated iron house could not be saved.

Three occupants at the time, a 69-year-old partial stroke victim; a 38-year-old woman and a seven-year-old child, suffered minor burns.

Fire investigators have started work at the scene.

Sowane reiterates an earlier warning about the need to teach children fire safety and to supervise them.

Sowane says a fire takes just seconds to extinguish a person’s hard work and dreams and the NFA is asking members of the public to be vigilant with the young and to teach them the dangers of playing with matches.

Last month the NFA attended to 12 residential fires, six in the Central Division, four in the Western Division and two in the Northern Division.

There were 34 structural fires until last month. 30 such fires were residential and four commercial.

The estimated cost of damage from structural fires last month alone, stood at $999,000.