The National Fire Authority (NFA) says the fire that destroyed a four bedroom house at Buiduna Hill outside Nausori on Saturday morning is believed to have been caused by a child playing with matches.
NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said officers at the Nakasi Fire Station received a call at 8.03am and arrived at the scene at 8.28am.
He said the house was fully engulfed in flames when the firefighters arrived.
“The nine-member crew, including a supporting tanker, managed to extinguish the fire. The 30 feet by 40 feet wood and corrugated iron house could not be saved,” Mr Sowane said.
He said the three occupants of the house 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.
Mr Sowane has reiterated the warning about the need to teach children fire safety and to supervise them.
“A fire takes just seconds to extinguish a person’s hard work and dreams. The NFA is asking members of the public to be vigilant with our young and to teach them the dangers of playing with matches,” he said.
