PHOTO CAPTION:  Feleti Hopoate aka Ulupano (in front)  with his wife Moʻunga ʻUlupano and their eldest daughter Seletute with their grandchildren  in front of their family home, The house their family had lived in was destroyed by fire on Monday 16. Photo/ ʻAna Tapueluelu 

A fire that destroyed one house and partly damaged two others at Houmakelikao on Monday 16, was started by a child playing with matches, Tonga Fire and Emergency Services said.

A 5m boat and a van were also affected by the fire.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 6.09pm it said.

Viliami Tu’ihalamaka from Tonga Fire Services said about 90 percent of a house belonged to Feleti Hopoate, 58, also known as ‘Ulupano was “fully destroyed”.

A house that was under-construction was “partly destroyed” by the fire also belonged to ʻUlupano he said.

A third house received “minor damaged” during the blaze belonged to Kilifi Finau, 55.

Tuʻihalamaka said the “child lit a match and threw it on top of the bed”.

There were no injuries and no one was killed in the blaze.

Tuʻihalamaka said the housefires have resulted in an estimated loss of TP$90,000.

Anyone wishing to donate or support the victims  can contact 8799981 or  8704249 and speak to ʻUlupano.