It started as a normal Saturday morning for a family in Vaivase-tai but soon things took a turn for the worst as a fire gutted through the home of the Vaai family.

Firefighters worked hard to control the blaze. While they could not save the home, they managed it from spreading to the connected structures.

The fire is believed to have started around 10 am. It did not take long for the inferno to blaze its way through the family home connected to two family businesses, Pate’s Hirage and Vicky’s Jams. Another

The smoke from the blaze could be seen from a distance coming from the double-storey wooden structure.

A family of five stayed in the home that was destroyed and another family stayed in the connected structure.

Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga said investigations were continuing to find out what caused the fire to the Vaai residence.

"All I can confirm now is that it was the Vaai's residence that was destroyed by a fire," Tanuvasa said.

"We have yet to confirm how the fire started at the moment."

Tanuvasa advised the public to unplug all electrical appliances if they're not in use and to get certified electricians to wire homes to avoid electrical faults.

He said it was important to always be mindful if something was being cooked and to place mosquito coils in containers that do not catch fire and away from curtains.

The police had to close off the busy Vaivase-tai road to allow the firefighters to work effectively in controlling the blaze.