A 71-year-old man suffering from stroke has tragically lost his life in a house fire in Navakai, Nadi.

He was alone at home and unable to escape when the fire broke out.

Police confirm that a post-mortem will be conducted as they await the findings of the National Fire Authority’s investigation into the cause of the fire.

According to the NFA, the Nadi Fire Station received a call at 1.58pm.

The crew responded immediately, deploying three fire trucks, nine firefighters and two Structural Fire Safety inspectors who arrived at the scene at 2.09pm to find the four-bedroom corrugated iron and wooden house engulfed in flames.

The fire was brought under control at 2.10pm.

NFA Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane says this is a very sad and tragic situation to have someone who is believed to be a stroke patient trapped inside this burning home.

He confirmed that this is the fourth fire-related fatality this year where three people were suffering from disabilities.