A Labasa family of five is homeless after their 4 bedroom home in Vunivau was razed to the ground late last night.

According to the National Fire Authority, they received an emergency call at 11.42pm but when they reached the residence, the 4 bedroom partly concrete and wooden house was totally engulfed in flames.

According to Public Relations Officer Mileta Ting their firefighters arrived eight minutes later as the poor road conditions and potholes hindered them.

Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is not known at the moment as investigators are currently at the scene.

This is the first fire of 2009 reported in the North.