Updated: 6:45am – An uncle of a partially disabled six- year-old did not hestitate to run back into their burning home to save Joeli Ravonokula.
“We are still in shock, but lucky to be alive,” said 19-year-old Eroni Kurumaira.
The fire at the Waikete Settlement in Tailevu, Nausori, resulted in eight people, including Mr Kurumaira and young Ravonokula, being homeless.
“The fire had spread within minutes and burned down everything we had. It will be very hard for us to get back on our feet with a good, big house because we only have one person working in the family of eight,” Mr Kurumaira said.
The fire started at around 3.30pm Saturday.
Mr Kurumaira said his family had gone to Nausori Town to do shopping. He was alone with his nephew when the fire broke out. Damage is estimated at $35,000.
It is alleged that the fire started from the electricity meter box. The fire also burned a portion of the church next to the house.
“I was inside the house with my nephew. I ran outside thinking it was in the church hall next to our house, but then I saw the fire spread from our meter box to around the house. We are lucky to escape death,” Mr Kurumaira said.
The National Fire Authority crew had managed to control the fire.
They will continue their investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
-Fiji Sun
