A family of five has become homeless after a fire destroyed their two-bedroom home in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, 55, a retired Fiji Sugar Corporation employee, was unable to save anything from the blaze that consumed the house where he had lived with his wife and three children for the past 50 years.
Kumar described the incident as happening very quickly. He had left to pick up his wife, son, and daughter from the TOTAL Service Station and returned to find their home engulfed in flames. “It was devastating to be standing there with only the clothes on your back; everything else was gone in the fire,” he said.
At the time of the incident, around 10:30 PM, no one was at home. Kumar had gone to Nadi with his family and was waiting for his elder son to finish work when the fire broke out. He remained alone at the service station until returning to discover the tragedy.
Authorities believe the fire started in one of the rooms, but an investigation is ongoing. Preliminary findings indicate that it was not caused by an electrical fault. This longstanding family home, where they have resided for half a century, now holds nothing but a few remaining clothes. The family is currently staying at a relative’s house nearby.
Kumar expressed a need for financial assistance to rebuild their home, as well as for basic necessities such as food and clothing. Attempts to reach Puamau Sowane, the CEO of the National Fire Authority, for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Those wishing to assist Mr. Kumar and his family can contact him directly at 9953371.