A family of seven is in need of assistance after their home was destroyed by a fire last Friday at Belego Settlement in Savusavu. The homeowner, 59-year-old Naren Chand, was away in Dreketi managing his business when he received the unfortunate news around 7:30 PM.
Chand reported that when the fire broke out, his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren were inside the house. Though the cause is still unknown, he mentioned that his children suggested an electrical wiring fault in the ceiling may have ignited the blaze, which quickly spread through the walls.
Recently, his daughter had constructed a flat nearby to live with her husband and two children. Chand expressed the heartbreak of losing a home that took him over 20 years to build, including the storeroom and car park area. “My wife and I worked very hard to buy everything for the home. We started from scratch,” he recalled.
Chand is now seeking support to rebuild their house, emphasizing that his grandchildren need help with school expenses since they have lost everything. His grandchildren are students at Savusavu Secondary School and Khemendra Central School. He has estimated the damage to be approximately $400,000.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that investigations are underway, and fortunately, there have been no casualties reported. This incident marks the second property fire in the Northern Division this month, following a house fire in Qelewaqa, Labasa, on September 14.