A family of five has lost their home after a fire completely destroyed their two-bedroom house in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, a 55-year-old retired Fiji Sugar Corporation employee, witnessed the devastation as he returned home with his wife and son, only to find their residence engulfed in flames.
“It all happened so fast. I went to pick up my son, wife, and daughter from the TOTAL Service Station. When we returned, our home was in flames, and we could do nothing but watch,” Mr. Kumar recounted.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM when no one was home. Mr. Kumar expressed the heartbreak of losing everything, standing outside in just the clothes they were wearing. Earlier in the day, he had gone to Nadi with his family, and they had been waiting at the service station for their eldest son to finish work when the fire broke out.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in one of the rooms. Mr. Kumar mentioned that it was unlikely the fire resulted from an electrical fault. He lamented the loss of their family home, which they had lived in for 50 years, stating, “We have lost everything except a few clothes; everything else was destroyed.” The family is currently staying with relatives in Rarawai.
Mr. Kumar has appealed for financial help to rebuild their house, as well as assistance with food and clothing. Efforts to reach the chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, Puamau Sowane, for further information went unanswered. Those who wish to help Mr. Kumar’s family can contact him directly at 9953371.