A family of five has been left homeless after a fire completely destroyed their two-bedroom home in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, 55, a retired employee of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, watched helplessly as flames consumed the house where he had lived with his wife and three children for the past 50 years.
Mr. Kumar recounted the tragic event, stating, “It happened really quickly. I drove to the TOTAL Service Station to pick up my son, wife, and daughter; when we returned, our home was on fire, and we could not save anything.” The fire broke out around 10:30 PM while no one was at home, leaving them devastated with only the clothes on their backs.
Earlier that day, Mr. Kumar had gone to Nadi with his wife and daughter, and they were waiting at the service station for their eldest son to finish work when the fire occurred. He expressed his disbelief, stating, “I was by myself throughout the day.”
The fire reportedly started in one of the rooms, and police are currently investigating the cause, which has been ruled out as an electrical fault. “It’s a family house; we have stayed there for 50 years. We’ve got nothing at all now, only a few clothes, but everything else was destroyed,” he added. The family is currently staying at a relative’s house nearby.
Mr. Kumar has appealed for financial assistance to help them rebuild their home, along with support for food and clothing. Attempts to reach the CEO of the National Fire Authority, Puamau Sowane, were unsuccessful. Those who wish to assist Mr. Kumar’s family can contact him directly at 9953371.