A family of seven is in need of assistance after their home was destroyed by fire last Friday at Belego Settlement in Savusavu. The homeowner, Naren Chand, 59, stated that his daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren were at the residence during the incident.
“I was away in Dreketi managing our business when I received the sad news around 7:30 PM,” said Mr. Chand. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but his children believe it may have originated from an electrical fault in the ceiling.
Mr. Chand indicated that the fire rapidly spread through the walls. He noted that his daughter had recently built a living space for her family closer to them.
Mr. Chand reflected on the effort that went into building their home, storeroom, and car park area over the course of more than 20 years. “My wife and I worked very hard to buy everything for the home. We started from scratch,” he shared.
Now, he is seeking support to rebuild their home and assist his grandchildren with their schooling, as they have lost everything. His grandchildren are enrolled in Savusavu Secondary School and Khemendra Central School. The estimated cost of the damage is around $400,000.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that investigations are underway and reported no casualties from the incident. This marks the second house fire this month in the Northern Division, with the first occurring in Qelewaqa, Labasa on September 14.