A family of five has lost their home after a fire completely destroyed their two-bedroom house in Rarawai, Ba, on Wednesday night. Manoj Kumar, a retired Fiji Sugar Corporation employee, witnessed the devastation as he returned home from the TOTAL Service Station with his wife and son. The fire broke out while they were away, and they arrived to find their home engulfed in flames.
“It happened so quickly. We returned and there was nothing we could do. The house we’ve lived in for 50 years was gone,” Kumar shared. At the time of the incident, around 10:30 pm, no one was at home. Kumar had gone to Nadi with his wife and daughter and was waiting at the service station for his elder son to finish work.
The fire reportedly began in one of the rooms, but authorities are still investigating the cause, ruling out electrical faults. “We’ve lost everything except a few clothes. It’s heartbreaking to have nothing left,” Kumar said. The family is currently staying with relatives in Rarawai.
Kumar is appealing for financial aid to help them rebuild their home and to provide food and clothes. Efforts to reach the chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, Puamau Sowane, were unsuccessful. Those who wish to help the Kumar family can contact him directly at 9953371.