A family of five is now without a home after a fire destroyed their two-bedroom house in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, a retired employee of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, expressed his heartbreak as he watched the flames engulf the residence that had been their home for the past 50 years.
“It happened so fast. I had gone to the TOTAL Service Station to pick up my son, wife, and daughter. When we returned, our home was on fire 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 with only the clothes on our backs; everything else was lost to the flames,” he said. Mr. Kumar and his family had been in Nadi and waited at the service station for their elder son to finish work when the incident occurred.
The fire reportedly started in one of the rooms, and the police are currently investigating the cause. Preliminary findings suggest it was not an electrical fault. “This is a family house, and we have lived here for 50 years. We have lost everything except a few clothes,” Mr. Kumar added. The family is now temporarily staying with relatives in Rarawai.
“We need financial assistance to rebuild our house, as well as food and clothing,” he appealed. Attempts to reach Puamau Sowane, the chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, for comment went unanswered. Those who wish to help Mr. Kumar’s family can contact him directly at 9953371.