A family of 10 has been left homeless after a fire destroyed their three-bedroom house in Tacirua, opposite the Fijian School, last night.
The National Fire Authority says they received an emergency call at 9.21pm and immediately dispatched firefighters from the Valelevu and Suva fire stations.
When firefighters arrived, the timber and corrugated iron house was fully engulfed in flames. Crews managed to bring the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby homes.
The house suffered between 80 and 100 percent damage and was not insured.
Preliminary investigations indicate the fire started in one of the bedrooms, although the exact cause remains under investigation.
National Fire Authority Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane says no one was injured in the fire and expressed sympathy to the family as they come to terms with the loss of their home.
He is reminding the public to take simple fire safety precautions, including switching off electrical appliances after use, avoiding overloading power outlets and ensuring electrical wiring is carried out only by licensed electricians.
The National Fire Authority's investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.