The commercial building across from Matafao Elementary School was completely destroyed by fire during the evening hours of Labor Day. The two-story structure was home to a family occupying the second level while the main floor housed three businesses: Ae Designz, H&H Air Conditioning, and Fast Kind Loans.

According to Fuega Moliga, assistant to the DPS Commissioner, first responders received a call reporting the fire on Monday night at around 11 p.m.

He said when police and firefighters arrived, the family residing on the second floor of the building were already standing outside with some of their belongings, watching the structure go up in flames.

The fire caused traffic to be backed up all the way to Matu’u yesterday morning. Motorists assumed that the delay was because yesterday was the first day of instruction for public schools.

Fuega said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. He added that everything in the building was completely destroyed but luckily, nobody was injured.

Efforts by the Samoa News to obtain comments from the business owners who suffered loss because of the fire were unsuccessful as of press time.