A family of seven is in need of support following a devastating fire that destroyed their home last Friday at Belego Settlement in Savusavu. Naren Chand, 59, the homeowner, received the distressing news about the fire while he was away managing the family business in Dreketi. At the time of the incident, his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren were inside the home.
“We are unsure of the fire’s cause, but my children suspect there was an electrical wiring issue in the ceiling that may have ignited the flames,” Mr. Chand explained. He added that the fire quickly spread through the walls of the house.
Mr. Chand noted that his daughter had recently constructed a flat to live with her husband and two children closer to the family. He reflected on the effort it took to build their home, storeroom, and car park over the course of more than 20 years. “My wife and I worked very hard to secure everything for our home. We started from nothing,” he shared.
The family is urgently seeking assistance to rebuild their house, and Mr. Chand emphasized the need for support to ensure his grandchildren can continue their education after losing everything. They are students at Savusavu Secondary School and Khemendra Central School. He estimated the damage from the fire to be around $400,000.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that an investigation is underway and reported that there were no casualties. This incident marks the second house fire reported this month in the Northern Division, with the first occurring in Qelewaqa, Labasa on September 14.