A family of five is currently without shelter after their two-bedroom house was completely destroyed by a fire in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, a 55-year-old retired employee of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, expressed his despair as he watched his home go up in flames along with all their belongings. The family had lived in the house for 50 years.
“It unfolded very rapidly. I went to the TOTAL Service Station to pick up my son, wife, and daughter. When we returned, our home was engulfed in flames, and we couldn’t save anything,” Mr. Kumar recounted.
The fire broke out around 10:30 PM while no one was at home. “It was devastating to stand there in just the clothes on our backs; everything else was lost in the fire,” he said. Mr. Kumar and his family had left for Nadi earlier in the day and returned while waiting at the service station for their eldest son to finish work.
The blaze originated from one of the rooms, though police are still investigating the cause. Preliminary reports indicate that it was not related to an electrical fault. “This has been our family house for 50 years. Now we have nothing except a few clothes, as everything else was destroyed,” he added. The family is currently staying with relatives in Rarawai.
Mr. Kumar emphasized their urgent need for financial help to rebuild their home, as well as food and clothing donations. Attempts to reach the chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, Puamau Sowane, were unsuccessful. Anyone wishing to assist Mr. Kumar’s family can contact him directly at 9953371.