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 employee of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, expressed his devastation after watching the flames consume the place where he had lived with his wife and three children for the past 50 years.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM when the family was away from home. Mr. Kumar had gone to a service station to pick up his wife, son, and daughter. Upon returning, they were confronted with the sight of their home engulfed in flames. “It all happened very fast; we could not save anything,” he stated.
At the time of the fire, Mr. Kumar had been alone for most of the day, having taken his wife and daughter to Nadi. The fire reportedly originated from one of the rooms, though authorities are still investigating the cause. Mr. Kumar clarified that it was not related to an electrical fault.
The family is now temporarily residing with relatives in Rarawai. “We need financial help to rebuild our house as well as food and clothing,” he pleaded. Attempts to reach the chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, Puamau Sowane, for comment went unanswered. People wishing to assist Mr. Kumar’s family can reach out to him at 9953371.