Fire Kills Mere Vulakoro's Family

Fire victims laid to rest www.sun.com.fj - 28 March 2007 More than 1500 people gathered at the Gospel High School in Suva yesterday to farewell in prayer the family that perished in an early morning fire last week. The funeral service of Major Edward Heffernan, his partner Mere Vulakoro, their daughter Shirley and nephew Peni united students of Suva Grammar School, Gospel Schools, Laucala Bay Secondary School, Marist Brothers High School, Cabinet ministers, soldiers, veteran politicians, relatives and friends. Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka reminisced of his days as a soldier serving alongside Mr Heffernan. The family perished in their Mead Road home after trying to break through their grilled front door last Thursday. Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and former soldiers in his Cabinet rose, Interim Minister for Fijian Affairs Ratu Epeli Ganilau and other serving and former soldiers rose to their feet while Mr Rabuka cited an excerpt from For the Fallen: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them." Shirley's best friend, Renata Cinavilevuka, said since they were girls at Veiuto Primary School, Shirley wanted to become many things, a lawyer, a politician or a doctor. "She was a great friend who made sure her friends did their homework. Her classmates, her friends and her teammates will miss her," said Renata. Peni's uncle, Julian Simpson, remembered saving Peni from his cousins when running from them. "I raised him like a son. In his final battle, I was not able to save him," he said.Mjr Heffernan's son, David, remembered his dad as one that was almost military-like in the way he raised his children. "I remember lining up with my sisters to get a belting and he always told us that if we were not by the car at 7am then we should just walk to school." Mere, a direct descendant of Fiji's war hero Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, is the third youngest in a family of ten and fulfilled obligations asked of her without any complaints. In his eulogy, her cousin, Nacanieli Takele, spoke of Mere as someone that had deep respect for her custom, especially those older than her. After a church service by minister Sani Matalomani, Maika Bovoro of the Raiwai Chapel and the Gospel Church choir, the family was buried at the Suva Cemetery under an overcast sky. Fire victims laid to rest Jona Bola www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, March 28, 2007 + Enlarge this image Pall bearers carry the coffin of 14-year-old Peni Vulakoro from Gospel High School hall yesterday to the burial site INTERIM Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama took time off yesterday to attend the funeral service of the family of four who died in a fire at Nabua last week. Edward Heffernan, 69, his 40-year-old wife Mere Vulakoro, their 16-year-old daughter Shirley Heffernan and 14-year-old nephew Peni Vulakoro were farewelled in a moving church service at Gospel High School. The four coffins lay side by side in the school hall as mourners bid them a tearful farewell. Major Heffernan's coffin was covered with the Fiji flag and his medals were placed on top. The other coffins were draped in masi and flowers. About 400 attended the service conducted by Reverend Sani Matalomani, who said Edward was a man of principle. "He was respected by many of us who knew him and carried out his duties faithfully until the day he was called home," he said. Former PM Sitiveni Rabuka, Bau chief Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto, interim ministers Dr Jona Senilagakali, Adi Laufitu Malani and former police chief Isikia Savua were at the service. Mr Rabuka said Heffernan was a cheerful man who was always rushing. Form Four students of Laucala Bay Secondary School recited Psalm 23 for their mate Peni and Shirley's fellow students from Suva Grammar School wore white. The family was buried at the new Suva extension cemetery. Victims of Nabua fire laid to rest www.fijivillage.com - Mar 27, 2007 A moving funeral service was held for the Heffernan family who died in a fire last week: Those were the words of former Army Commander, Sitiveni Rabuka who gave the eulogy on behalf of the serving officers of the Fiji Military Forces, in the funeral service of retired Major Edward Heffernan and his wife, Mere, daughter, Shirley and nephew, Peni today. Rabuka says Edward Heffernan was always cheerful and had contributed a lot to Fiji as he assisted in the pre-independence process to ensure that things ran smoothly in the young civil service in the new independent Fiji. Rabuka says Edward who was his second in command in Lebanon at one stage, would be best remembered by most of his colleagues as a person who was always walking up and down the corridors of the army headquarters - his boots always click clacking on the corridors - an indication that Edward is on his way. The former Prime Minister also shared a story about an exercise where they had to ambush Heffernan's group. Major Heffernan's son, David paid tribute to his father in moulding them to do well in their life. One of 16 year old Shirley Heffernan's best friends, Renata Civanilakeba who was her friend from class one at Veiuto Primary to Suva Grammar said Shirley always ensured that all her close friends did their homework. An emotional Renata said Shirley was a prefect and was always quick in doing things, just like her father. More than 1,500 people from all walks of life were present at the Heffernan family's funeral service today. Present were the Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, ministers, senior officers, families and friends from abroad, students from Gospel High School, Suva Grammar School, Laucala Bay Secondary school and Marist at the packed Gospel High School hall in Suva. Major Heffernan, his wife, Mere, daughter, Shirley and nephew, Peni died in an early morning fire at their Mead Road home on Thursday. Many people are still coming to terms with their loss, what happened and what could have happened BUT in Rabuka's words today: They were united in life and are now united in death. Fire victims laid to rest The four victims of the early morning fire at Mead Road in Suva last week will be laid to rest today.Major Edward Heffernan, Mere Vulakoro, Shirley Heffernan and Peni Rakobounivonu will be transported from the Suva Private Hospital mortuary to a church service before their burial.A family member Lani Vulakoro said the gathering, although held at Mead Road, was held at different residences.“We will go down to the mortuary in the morning and after we have dressed their bodies, they will be transported to the Gospel School hall at Samabula where they will have a joint church service,” she said.“Shirley and her father will be cared for by the Heffernans while we will take care of Mere and her grandson Peni’s funeral gathering.” The coffins will then be transferred to the Suva cemetery where the four will be buried.An early morning fire razed their home on Thursday morning and the four were trapped in their home after they were unable to open their front door grille to escape.Although they called for help, neighbours were unable to assist them because the fire had spread quickly.Firefighters arrived nine minutes after being contacted but the National Fire Authority chief fire officer Mark Reid said they would not have been able to save any of them because the fire had completely razed the house by the time they arrived.Investigations into the cause of the fire continue. A Suva Grammar School student pays her last respect during the funeral of the Heffernan family who were killed in a tragic fire accident last week. 16-year-old Sheller Heffernan a student at the school also died when the fire engulfed the house. Fire victims laid to rest www.sun.com.fj - 27 March 2007. The four victims of the early morning fire at Mead Road in Suva last week will be laid to rest today.Major Edward Heffernan, Mere Vulakoro, Shirley Heffernan and Peni Rakobounivonu will be transported from the Suva Private Hospital mortuary to a church service before their burial.A family member Lani Vulakoro said the gathering, although held at Mead Road, was held at different residences.“We will go down to the mortuary in the morning and after we have dressed their bodies, they will be transported to the Gospel School hall at Samabula where they will have a joint church service,” she said.“Shirley and her father will be cared for by the Heffernans while we will take care of Mere and her grandson Peni’s funeral gathering.” The coffins will then be transferred to the Suva cemetery where the four will be buried.An early morning fire razed their home on Thursday morning and the four were trapped in their home after they were unable to open their front door grille to escape.Although they called for help, neighbours were unable to assist them because the fire had spread quickly.Firefighters arrived nine minutes after being contacted but the National Fire Authority chief fire officer Mark Reid said they would not have been able to save any of them because the fire had completely razed the house by the time they arrived.Investigations into the cause of the fire continue. Students lament the loss of a dear school mate MONIKA SINGH www.fijitimes.com - Tuesday, March 27, 2007 + Enlarge this image Students of Suva Grammar School lament the loss of their school mate Shirley Heffernan at her funeral yesterday. THERE was not a dry eye after a moving church service to pay tribute to a teenager who was burnt alive with her family last week. Suva Grammar School held a memorial service for Shelly Heffernan, a student and sportswoman. Many shared fond memories of the 16-year-old who was interim head girl last year. Lisa Judith, one of her friends, said Shelly was liked by everyone who knew her at school because of her attitude. "She was very outspoken and she was not afraid to point out to the teachers when they made mistakes and she was nice," said Lisa. She said they could not hold back their tears at the memorial service because one of their school mates and close friend had died in a tragic manner. The funeral service for the Heffernans will be held at Gospel High School hall today. Sixty-nine year old Edward Heffernan, a retired major in the Fiji Military Forces, his 40-year-old wife Mere Vulakoro, their 16-year-old daughter Shelly who was in Form Six at Grammar and their 14-year-old grandson Peni Heffernan, a Form Four student of Laucala Bay Secondary School died in the fire which destroyed their home last week. The four could not escape because they could not unlock the burglar bars surrounding their house. Mere's younger sister, Lavinia, said the police had released their bodies to the family after the post-mortem examination. Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Crime Josaia Rasiga said investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing. ASP Rasiga said police, forensics, National Fire Authority and the Fiji Electricity Authority were each doing their own investigation to determine the cause of fire. "The FEA is trying to find out if there was any electrical fault which caused the fire. "We have taken samples from the scene and if our investigations reveal anything suspicious, we will seek overseas help to enable us to analyse the evidence but at the moment we are conducting the investigation," he said. ASP Rasiga refused to divulge the result of the post-mortem examination. Overseas help may be sought in fire probe www.fijilive.com - Monday March 26, 2007 Fiji police may seek assistance from overseas experts in their investigations into a fire which claimed the lives of four family members in Suva last week. Retired army major Edward Heffernan, his wife Mere, 18-year-old daughter Shirley and nephew, 16-year-old Peni Vulakoro were trapped inside their home when the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning last Thursday. Police spokesperson ASP Ulaiasi Ravula said any request for overseas assistance will depend on the people who are on the ground conducting the investigations. He said they have been liaising with the National Fire Authority in their attempts to find out the cause of the fire. NFA chief fire officer Mark Reid said he will be meeting with police to finalise their report. "We will let the media know as soon as the report is finalised," said Reid. The funeral services for the four victims will be held in Suva tomorrow. Tribute to Eddie Heffernan SITIVENI RABUKA www.fijitimes.com -Sunday, March 25, 2007 + Enlarge this image Lotu ni veivakatikori at 1FIR HQ in Qana, Lebanon in June 1980. (l-r) Major Heffernan, Lt Col Alex Eastgate, Lt Col Rabuka and Chaplain Tawake (back to camera) ON Thursday morning, while I was on my way to Lautoka, I received a call from my daughter. "Isa Dad, I think Mr Heffernan died in the fire with his wife and their daughter, Shirley, Lewa's friend last night." "Where is Lewa?" I asked. My daughter said, "I am going to pick her up from school. They are going to go to another friend's house and just cry together. Their teachers have allowed them the rest of the day off." I aborted the visit to Lautoka and came back to Suva to be with my granddaughter when she got home in the afternoon. It is so difficult for young people to lose a dear friend. When Lavinia got home in the afternoon, I just held her close and allowed her to cry. I related to her my own experiences when we lost a classmate in Bucalevu in 1959, and a classmate at Queen Victoria School in 1962. She knew I understood her grief, and it helped. My daughter was also wondering how her friend Alice Heffernan was coping. They were secondary school girls in the late 1980s and early 1990s and lived as neighbours in the Officers' Quarters at Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Edward's father was my uncle's boss at Mount Kasi gold mine before the Second World War. Work, communication and education have made the world so much smaller. When I joined the army in January 1968, there were only three Officer Cadets in the Territorial Force Officer Cadets George Tu'uakitau Cokanauto, Isimeli Bainimara and Edward Heffernan. Fiji was preparing for Independence and part of the preparation was the development of the then Fiji Military Forces to take on its own independent role as the military force of a sovereign nation. Because of the anticipated rapid expansion of the regular force, some officers of the territorial battalion were offered to accept a change in their commission and serve in the regular force. After getting commissioned in the territorial force, Edward Heffernan opted for the regular force and came in to serve as a Staff Officer in Headquarters FMF. Isimeli Bainimara joined the regular force after his two-year term as ADC to the then Governor General, and stayed on until he commanded the Regular Infantry Company of the time before being transferred to the civil service. Edward Heffernan's long and colourful career in the regular force of the FMF started when he joined in the early 1970s until the general demobilisation in 1991. Edward and I once shared a small office in HQ RFMF when he was Staff Captain A (Administration) and I was Staff Captain Q (Logistics). Everyone could tell Edward approaching with his very fast cadence. He would have been a natural in the light Infantry who march at 140 paces a minute, compared to the 116 paces for "heavies". Edward was always smiling and laughing. He would cheer up any gathering with his jokes, wit and "tap dancing" to get out of sticky situations. The only time I remember seeing Edward gloomy was the Monday after the annual Officers' Mess versus Sergeants' Mess Rugby match in QEB. Edward played one match of rugby each year and this was the match. Just before full-time in that particular year, the teams were tied when I had a good break from a "Willie Away" move which opened up the opposition try line. The rest of the Officers' team knew I was going to score so did not come in to support. Not Edward. He kept calling "Sir! Sir!" so I passed him the ball to score the winning try. I was nearly mobbed for risking the pass to Edward, who everybody thought was either going to knock the ball on or over-run the scoring area. Well, Edward was our hero that night and he shouted both teams signing "chits" to use his own terminology "as if they were going out of fashion". When the "chits" were added up on Monday, Edward was not amused. Edward was my Second in Command (2IC) in Lebanon in 1980. I saw a very caring Edward when we lost one of our soldiers then, and I could see the anguish as he imagined what the soldier's widow would feel when told her husband had died. Edward came to console me that being the first death under my command, and although the soldier was older than both of us, we felt we had lost a son. Edward became my Personal Staff Officer after the coup in 1987, and became very close to my family. Although my children called him Mr Heffernan until he died, he always insisted they called him Uncle Eddie while he never called me anything else but "Sir". All of us who served with, or under or commanded Edward will agree, he was a faithful and loyal soldier, and one of the highlights of my own career was presenting him his Meritorious Service Decoration which he told me was for 15 years of undetected crime. Well done, Edward. You may not be present as we your brother officers RV to come to your family this week, but we note that you are reporting for duty before our Supreme Commander who we all agree will say to you: "Fall In, thou good and faithful soldier." Until we fall in beside you, goodbye dear brother. And, we, the officers including Jim Sanday and Archie Valentine in Australia, and all ranks who served with Eddie Heffernan would like to say to all his family and friends, please accept our heartfelt gratitude for allowing Edward to share his life with us. Police officers carry the bodies from the fire scene yesterday. The four family members were trapped inside the house behind security grilles. Photo: SOWANI KURUSIGA NABUA FIRE DEATHS www.fijidailypost.com -23-Mar-2007 Heffernan family killed in dawn fire THE lack of basic fire safety tips could have contributed to the death of a family of four who were burnt to their deaths inside their wooden house at Mead Road, Nabua early yesterday morning. The four could not escape, with the thick smoke hindering their efforts to try and open the burglar bars. Chief Fire Officer Mark Reid said the four were trapped inside by security grilles and locked doors. “Although the exact cause and circumstances are yet to be determined, it is becoming apparent that this scenario is typically the most common cause of fire deaths in Fiji,” Reid said. “It appears that the security grilles and locked doors may have contributed to these deaths this morning. “If people have security grilles installed, they need to have a quick and easy means to open the grilles from the inside. We need to work harder to educate all Fijians about fire safety to make sure that this does not happen again. “If deadlocks are used on doors then the key must be readily available near the door, not sitting in a remote location.” Retired military officer Major Edward Heffernan, his wife Mary, daughter Shirley and a grandson Peni Vulakoro lost their lives in an early morning fire that shocked neighbours and passers-by. Reid said neighbours told firemen that they saw one of the victims trying to escape but was unable to get out of the burning house because of the security grilles. Another body was found in a similar position at the rear door of the house. The fire broke out about 3am. He said a smoke detector may have given these people enough early warning to escape. “These simple life-saving detectors are cheap and easily installed,” he said. “All homes in Fiji are at risk from fire and every household should have a fire plan in place so that every family member knows what to do if a fire starts within their home.” Reid also highlighted the importance of calling the Fire Brigade on 911 as soon as possible. “We believe there may have been a delay in advising the Fire Brigade on this occasion;” he said. “My Firefighters and I are very upset and disappointed at what happened this morning as it could have been prevented.” By LITIA TUILOVONI Family burned alive Neighbours watch helplessly amid screams By SAMANTHA RINA - www.sun.com.fj - 23 March 2007 A family of four burnt to death yesterday as they struggled to unlock the security door of their blazing home. Dead are retired soldier Major Edward Heffernan, 69, his partner Mere Vulakoro, their 18-year-old daughter Shirley Heffernan and Peni Rakobounivonu, 16. The four attempted to get out of their house at Mead Road in Suva after the fire started but they could not unlock the front door grilles. Varanisese Volavola, 23, said she was awoken after 3am by an explosion and thought an accident had occurred on the road but later realised the sound came from the Heffernans’residence. “I could smell something burning so I rushed outside and when I saw the house burning, I called the Fire Authority,” she said. “We could hear them calling out for help and it appeared like they were trying to get out through the front door but couldn't find the right key to open the lock. They may have panicked and couldn't focus on finding the right key because by then the house was completely up in flames.” The fire trucks, she said, arrived 15 minutes later and ran out of water just minutes after trying to extinguish the flames. “But even by the time they arrived, it was already too late because the whole house was engulfed in flames and the fire had slowly begun to die out,” said Ms Volavola. “We have been neighbours for almost ten years now and they were a very close-knit family. They were also good neighbours and it's still difficult to believe an entire family we have known for years were lost within minutes.”Other neighbours tried to assist the family but were beaten back by the searing heat from the flames. National Fire Authority chief fire officer Mark Reid said they were still trying to determine the cause of the fire. He said they sent two trucks to the scene nine minutes after receiving the call. "I can confirm there is nothing suspicious about how the fire started and that what happened is a typical style in Fiji where a fire occurs and people can't get out of their own homes. Families need to have a fire plan and they need to know what to do if their house catches fire," he said. Mr Reid said it was important that a spare key was always placed near door locks. "Another plan would be to install smoke detectors. They're not too expensive and provide an early warning to people.” Four perish in dawn fire MONIKA SINGH www.fijitimes.com -Friday, March 23, 2007 + Enlarge this image Lavinia Vulakoro and daughter Lagilagi Tuiketeiloma outside the burnt home where Lavinias sister Mere and niece Shelly died early yesterday morning FOUR members of a family, including two students, died as they tried to escape from a fire which razed their home yesterday morning. Dead are: Edward Heffernan, 69, a retired senior military officer; his 40-year-old wife Mere Vulakoro; their 16-year-old daughter Shelly, a Form Six student at Suva Grammar School; their 14-year-old grandson Peni Heffernan, a Form Four student of Laucala Bay Secondary School. And Chief Fire Officer Mark Reid has described security grilles as death traps in Fiji homes. "It appears that the security grilles and locked doors may have contributed to these deaths,'' he said. "If people have security grilles installed, then they need to have a quick and easy means to open these from inside." A neighbour, Mere Kubuabola, said she watched helplessly as she saw Mr Heffernan struggling to get through the security grille. She heard people screaming for help around 3.30am and saw smoke from next door. She ran outside and saw another neighbour identified as Emosi at the front gate of the Heffernans' home. "But the gate was locked and so Emosi jumped over the gate and ran to the house to help," she said. She said the house had grilles all around the windows, the front and back door. She could see Mr Heffernan standing at the door trying to unlock the grilles to get out as fire slowly engulfed him. "We could see him standing there with everything burning. He could not open the grilles and we were unable to do anything but watch him," she said. Ms Kubuabola said someone had called the fire brigade and a truck arrived at the scene but because the house was wooden, it burnt quickly. "We could see the other members trying to escape but the grilles prevented them from doing so. "Shelly tried to escape through the back door but she got stuck in the grilles," she said. The police forensic team was yesterday collecting the remains from the scene. Mr Heffernan's body was found near the front door. Lavinia Vulakoro, the younger sister of Mere said she had been told of the incident later in the day. She could not hide her emotion as she stared at the charred remains of the house and her relatives. "I just cannot believe that my sister and her family met such a fate," she said. She said the two children were so beautiful and innocent. A large crowd watched as the police started their investigations. Mr Reid said the Suva Fire Station received a call at 3.47am and two fire trucks were at the scene at 3.56am. He said by that time, the house was engulfed in flames. The fire officers tried to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring homes. He said five children died in similar circumstances in 2005 and another five died in 2006. He said even though the cases were different, the burglar bars had prevented the victims from escaping during fire in their homes. "All homes in Fiji are at risk from fire and every household should have a fire plan in place so that every family member knows what to do if a fire starts within their home," said Mr Reid. He said the recently introduced 'Smoke House' was one of the strategies used by the National Fire Authority in its community education and safety program to try and prevent future tragedies like the one yesterday. "Two of my officers and the police are investigating the cause of the fire and we will release our findings as soon as we complete our investigations," he said. On the use of burglar bars in home security, architect Ashok Balgovind from Ashok Balgovind and Associates said there were no restrictions on the use of grilles and burglar bars in homes in Fiji. But Mr Balgovind said it depended on the owners and was their responsibility to have an exit point in the house and always have keys to the locks available at reach Fire deaths shock Suva neighbourhood www.fijilive.com-Thursday March 22, 2007 Forensics officers remove the bodies of four members of a family from a house fire. The close knit community of one of the oldest suburbs in Fiji’s capital Suva is trying to come to terms with the gruesome deaths of four members of a family in a house fire. Retired army officer Major Edward Heffernan, his wife Mere Vulakoro, 18-year old daughter Shirley and a relative identified only as 16-year old Peni perished when the fire engulfed their home in Nabua in the early hours of this morning. The Heffernans’ neighbour Mere Kubuabola said she was standing on the side of the road waiting for a prayer meeting around 3.40am when she saw what she initially thought was fog. "I crossed the road to find the Heffernans’ house on fire," she said. Kubuabola said another neighbour Emosi Rakai jumped over the fence to try and help the family but couldn’t get close to the building because of the flames. "I heard the noise coming out from the house and I think they were trying to break the windows and doors to come out," she said. Kubuabola said she saw Major Heffernan open the main door and struggle with the keys while trying to open the burglar grilled door. "His feet caught fire and he fell towards his right," she said. "Everything happened so fast," she said. Police director operations Jahir Khan said the four occupants tried hard to escape but couldn’t because of the grilles. "The elderly guy tried to open the door but I think by that time he got really exhausted and his attempts to open the grille were unsuccessful and he collapsed. "The wife tried to open the rear door and she was unsuccessful and the children also tried to assist in opening the rear door but were still not able to open it. "I think all got exhausted because of the heat and the smoke that was contained in the house and when the door was finally opened and the grills were still intact, this is where a bulk of the air went in and intensified the fire," he said. "I think there was no hope of escaping, they got trapped in their own home. "They were away from the bedroom. They were making an attempt to get out of the house and that’s why there was a lot of running around in the house. "It is one of the many cases we have handled and it is pretty tragic because the man was elderly. "There was quite an intensive fire inside and the bodies received around 80 percent burns," he said. Police and fire fighters with assistance from the Fiji Electricity Authority and Fiji Gas personnel are investigating the cause of the fire. Bodies recovered from burnt home By ww.fijivillage.com Mar 22, 2007, Police have recovered the bodies of the 4 members of a family who died after their house caught fire in Mead road early this morning. Assistant Police Spokesperson Corporal Prashila Narayan confirms that the bodies were taken to the Suva Mortuary in the last hour. Corporal Narayan confirms that the occupants in the house were a 69 year old man, his 40 year old wife and two children aged 16 and 18. The names of the deceased will not be released until the next of kin have been informed and Acting Commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca has been informed of the incident. Tikotikoca who is on his way to Taveuni is expected to comment this afternoon. Chief Fire Officer, Mark Reid earlier told Legend FM News that they acted quickly to extinguish the fire but none of the family members in the house could be saved. Reid said they have established that the occupants of the home could not get out of the house when the fire started as the doors and grills of the house were all locked. Four die in morning blaze www.fijidailypost.com- 22-Mar-2007 12:41 PM A FAMILY of four lost their lives in an early morning fire in Nabua today, March 23, 2007. Retired army officer Major Edward Heffernan and his family could not escape the fire at their Mead Road home. Neighbours, police and firefighters believe the four could not escape in time because their doors and burglar grilles were locked. Two of the family members were seen trying to escape through the front and back door. Their bodies were recovered from the spot. Firefighters could not save the four but were able to save the fire from spreading to nearby houses. Police and the fire department will carry out their own investigations to determine the cause of the fire. The fire reportedly started at 3am. By LITIA TUILOVONI Four perish in house fire www.fijilive.com -Thursday March 22, 2007 Four members of a family including a retired senior Fiji army officer died when their home caught fire in the early hours of this morning. The fire started around 3.47am and engulfed the wooden building belonging to a retired major in the Fiji Military Forces on Mead Road in Suva. Fire fighters found the bodies of four adults inside the house after they conducted a search. Two of the victims are secondary school students. Fire fighters said it was unlikely that any additional victims will be found until a thorough search is conducted today. Neighbours told a fire officer that at least one of the occupants was seen trying to escape the fire but was prevented from doing so by security grilles. Another victim was found in a similar position at the rear door, the National Fire Authority said in a statement. Fire fighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby properties. Chief Fire Officer Mark Reid said the security grille and locked doors may have contributed to the deaths this morning. “Although the exact cause and circumstances are yet to be determined, it is becoming apparent that this scenario is typically the most common cause of fire deaths in Fiji. Reid said he and his firefighters are very upset and disappointed at what happened this morning as it could have been prevented. “We need to work harder to educate all Fijians about fire safety to make sure that this does not happen again,” he said. Early Morning fire claims 4 lives By www.fijivillage.com Mar 22, 2007, 09:41

An early morning fire has claimed four lives.

News has just come to hand that a house in Mead Road caught fire just after 3 o’clock this morning.

Chief Fire Officer, Mark Reid says although they acted quickly to extinguish the fire, none of the family members in the house could be saved.

Reid says they have established that the occupants of the home could not get out of the house when the fire started.


Meanwhile police are still waiting for the pathologists to examine the four bodies at the scene before they are taken to the mortuary.

Assistant spokesperson, Corporal Prashilla Narayan confirms that the occupants in the house were a 69 year old man, his 40 year old wife and two children aged 16 and 18.

Stay with us we will have more information in the next hour.