A family of seven is urgently seeking assistance after their home was destroyed by a fire last Friday at Belego Settlement in Savusavu. The homeowner, Naren Chand, 59, reported that at the time of the incident, his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren were inside the house.
“I was away in Dreketi managing our business when I received the tragic news around 7:30 PM,” Mr. Chand said. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but his children believe an electrical wiring fault in the ceiling ignited the blaze, which subsequently spread through the walls.
Mr. Chand mentioned that his daughter had recently built a flat to live with her husband and their two children nearby. He expressed that it took him over 20 years to construct the house, storeroom, and car park.
“My wife and I worked very hard to acquire everything for the home. We started from scratch,” he stated. He stressed the importance of support to rebuild their house, emphasizing that his grandchildren also need assistance to continue their education, having lost everything in the fire.
His grandchildren attend Savusavu Secondary School and Khemendra Central School, and he estimates the damage is around $400,000. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that investigations are underway but reported no casualties. This incident marks the second property fire in the Northern Division this month, following a house fire in Qelewaqa, Labasa on September 14.