A family of five has lost their home following a fire that completely destroyed their two-bedroom residence in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, a 55-year-old retired Fiji Sugar Corporation employee, and his family have been living in the house for the past 50 years.
The incident occurred rapidly while Mr. Kumar was away picking up his son, wife, and daughter from a service station. “By the time we returned, our home was engulfed in flames, and we couldn’t salvage anything,” Mr. Kumar recounted. At around 10:30 PM, no one was present at the home, and Mr. Kumar expressed the devastation of losing everything, standing on the scene with merely the clothes he was wearing.
The fire reportedly originated from one of the rooms, but the police are still investigating the cause, ruling out electrical faults as a possibility. Mr. Kumar emphasized the significance of the family home, saying, “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.” Currently, the family is staying temporarily with relatives in Rarawai.
Mr. Kumar has appealed for financial assistance to help rebuild their home, as well as for food and clothing. Efforts to reach the National Fire Authority’s chief executive officer, Puamau Sowane, were unsuccessful. Those who wish to help Mr. Kumar’s family can contact him directly at 9953371.