5 people who died in house fire were trapped due to the burglar bars

The five people who died in the tragic house fire in Lautoka late last night were trapped inside the house due to the burglar bars.

The National Fire Authority says the bodies of three children and two adults were located near the main door which was inaccessible because of the fire and they were trapped by the burglar bars.

Police and the National Fire Authority are now conducting a joint investigation in relation to the house fire at VM Pillay Road in Lautoka.

The three children were aged 3, 9 and 12 years, one of the adults was in his 20s while the other adult’s age is yet to be confirmed.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro says the victims were trapped inside the 3-bedroom house at the time of the incident.

Naisoro says six people were inside the house and one of the occupants managed to escape.

The person is admitted at the Lautoka ICU ward in critical condition.

Chief Fire Officer, Qionilau Moceitai says at 11.42 last night, Lautoka Fire Station received a fire emergency call and immediately responded.

Upon arrival at 11.49pm, the Fire Team saw the house fully engulfed in flames.

Moceitai says the Fire Team used deliveries of water from their two fire trucks relayed from the nearby fire hydrant to extinguish the fire.

The concrete structured house was destroyed by the fire.

An adult was rescued by the neighbours before the arrival of the NFA and was taken to the hospital.

The deaths of five people have increased the number of fire deaths so far this year to thirteen compared to eight for the whole of last year.

The NFA is reminding home owners to be mindful of security devices like burglar bars installed at home.

Moceitai says it is very important for home owners to install burglar bars that can be easily opened during a fire and also map out a plan with their family members and discuss the exit routes through the main door and other alternative routes in the house as a means of escape to get out of the house safely during a fire.

The NFA is also asking home owners to consider installing a Smoke Detector in the house that will alert the family in the event of a fire in the house.