With Diwali festival less than two weeks away, the National Fire Authority has urged people to be careful as fires during Diwali have been mainly due to carelessness.

Acting chief fire officer Tupou Saubulinayau said parents should monitor their children when they are playing with firecrackers, matches, candles and prayer diyas.

Saubulinayau also urged people to read through the instructions before setting off fireworks.

Meanwhile, a farmer in Navula Settlement, Valley Road, Sigatoka, lost everything in a fire on Saturday.

According to NFA, the family was outside on their farm when the fire started from the kitchen.

Preliminary investigations show that the fire was electrically related.

The four bedroom corrugated iron and timber house was destroyed in the fire.