A 64-year-old man has sadly passed away in a house fire at Vunivau Paras Point in Labasa.
The National Fire Authority says preliminary investigations indicate that the fire is suspected to have originated in the living room area, with the likely cause linked to an electrical fault.
A joint investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
This brings the total number of fire-related fatalities recorded this year to three.
In this tragic case, the Labasa Fire Station received an emergency call via the direct line reporting a residential property on fire.
Fire crews responded immediately, travelling a distance of approximately 3 kilometres and arriving at the scene within four minutes to find a three-bedroom house fully engulfed in flames.
Two fire appliances with a combined crew of seven firefighters were deployed to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Firefighters utilized tank water supply and multiple hose deliveries to bring the fire under control and successfully extinguish the flames and subsequent hotspots.
The timber and corrugated iron structured home sustained extensive damage estimated between 90 to 100 percent.
NFA Chief Executive Officer, Puamau Sowane has conveyed his grave concern over the incident, particularly highlighting the continued prevalence of electrical-related fires.
Sowane says this incident is both tragic and deeply concerning, particularly with the unfortunate loss of life.
He says electrical faults have consistently remained one of the leading causes of structural fires over the past three years.
Sowane says this ongoing trend is a matter of serious concern for the Authority.
He emphasises that a significant number of these incidents are preventable through adherence to basic electrical safety practices and increased public awareness.
He adds homeowners and occupants must ensure that all electrical wiring and installations are carried out by qualified electricians and are regularly inspected.
Members of the public are strongly encouraged to routinely check for damaged electrical cords, avoid the use of faulty appliances, and switch off electrical devices when not in use.
In case of any emergency, the public is urged to immediately call the National Fire Authority on 910.
