1 Apr 2014

House burns down in Vanuatu because fire service had no fuel in trucks

11:30 am on 1 April 2014

In Vanuatu, a fire has consumed a Port Vila family's house and car, with the Fire Service unable to attend because it didn't have any fuel in its trucks.

The house was 1,500 metres from the Fire Station.

The residents say they barely escaped with their two children before their entire home went up in flames in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Our correspondent in Port Vila says this is not the first time the fire service has been unable to attend fires because it had no fuel, with reports of fire engines being on standby for up to three weeks.

The Police Commissioner, who is also responsible for the fire service, has promised to look into the issue.