Teacher watches in pain as house burns
No one was injured; $80,000 home took Mr Prasad four years to build.
A30-year-old Lelean Memorial School teacher watched in despair as his house burned yesterday. Year 12 and 13 teacher, Arun Prasad, of Seaqaqa, Labasa, was in tears when fire engulfed his home at Waidamudamu Settlement in Nakasi.
The $80,000 house took Mr Prasad four years to build. Mr Prasad lived with his wife, two children and mother-in-law.
When the fire broke out, Mr Prasad and his wife were at work, their two children were at school while his mother-in-law was at the Nausori Health Centre for medical check-up.
“I was in my class when I received a call from my uncle who informed me about the fire. I left everything and came straight home,” Mr Prasad said. “When I arrived I saw my house up in flames. I was helpless to do anything.”
He said before he left the house yesterday morning, he had checked all the electrical appliances and gas tanks to ensure everything was switched off.
“My wife is a teacher at Gospel Primary School and had left for work at 6am,” he said.
“My mother-in-law, children and I left home after 7am but before I left, I ensured that I checked everything was switched off in the house.
“I do not know what could be the cause of the fire, but I suspect it might be an electrical fault in the solar panel.
“I have lost everything. All my hard work vanished in front of my eyes,” Mr Prasad said.
The National Fire Authority is investigating.