It’s suspicious - NFA

The fire in Nanuku settlement in Vatuwaqa last night which has claimed the lives of three people is now being treated as suspicious.

A mother, her son and daughter who were in their early 20s perished in the house fire while the 48-year-old owner of the house is still being interviewed by police.

National Fire Authority chief executive officer John O’Connor said preliminary investigations indicate that there was a family argument yesterday afternoon which could have led to the fire.

NFA is working closely with police to determine the cause of fire and the deaths related to it.
 
The timber and corrugated iron house was destroyed, however, the firefighters managed to control the fire from spreading to nearby houses.

The firefighters battled the flames till about 1am this morning however the three people could not be saved.  

Fire tenders rushed to the scene as the firefighters tried their best to rescue the occupants of the house after finding out that the mother and her two children were inside.

The three bodies were found huddled in a corner.

Chairman of the Crime Prevention Committee in the area, Rajendra Udit who stays in the neighborhood said he heard screams at around 11pm.

He rushed to the scene and found the house engulfed in flames.

Udit said they tried to break the front door to rescue the occupants but were unsuccessful.

According to Udit, the family members who lost their lives had good relations with their neighbors.