Five members of a family are in mourning after a fire claimed the life of a six-year-old girl, Natasha Nath, and destroyed their home in Martintar on Tuesday night.

Natasha died after she was trapped in the four-bedroom house engulfed by flames.

Her distraught aunt Ema Kanailagi recalled the incidents leading to the fatal event.

Natasha, who was fondly known as Rosy by family members attended Namaka Public Kindergarten and was raised by her grandparents and father after her parents separated.

“She was usually talkative and now that she is gone, the house will be so quiet without her,” Ms Kanailagi said.

“When I went to pick her up from school yesterday, she sensed something was going to happen and she kept asking me to hug her and she kissed my cheek and told me she will miss me.”

Ms Kanailagi was awoken by her sister-in- law who told her that the house was on fire.

“I ran for the kids and I threw Jashneel out the window and someone caught him,” she said.

“We all knew Rosy was holding her grandmother’s hand but due to her bad eyes, the grandmother didn’t see Rosy let go of her hand and run back inside the house, jump on the bunk bed and cover herself in a blanket,” she said.

“We tried to get her but heat from the fire was too strong.”

I don’t know how the fire started because I unplugged and wiped everything before going to sleep.

“I think someone set fire to the house because last Tuesday, two phones were stolen from the home.”

The family will meantime, reside temporarily in a vacant room at a temple at the CAAF compound in Namaka, Nadi

National Fire Authority Chief Executive Officer Puamau Sowane said firefighters fought the fire for one hour in an attempt to rescue the late Natasha and were able to reach her after five minutes and retrieve her body out of the burning house.

Upon arrival at 2123 crew found the four-bedroom house engulfed in flames.

Brigade personell immediately established one delivery from tank supply and fought the fire in efforts to locate a six-year- old who was trapped in one of the bedrooms,’ he said.

“It was a gallant effort by our boys but the fire was so great it prevented them from trying to penetrate the area.”

“We understand the trauma the family is going through and we pray that our Lord Almighty will comfort them during this difficult time.”

The firefighters tried their best to save the victim but heavy flames spread quickly engulfing the whole structure.

They however, managed to contain the fire from spreading.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said joint investigations were being conducted with NFA.

“The victim was home with a relative and an older sibling when the incident happened.

Bystanders tried to rescue the child, but due to the intensity of the heat were not able to do so,” she said.

The Scene:

Distraught grandfather Jagendra Nath said he received the call from a neighbour at 9.10 pm informing him that his house was on fire, By the time he arrived at 9.20pm, the house was destroyed

“My wife was outside crying saying Rosy is inside the house and I tried to go in, but Police stopped me.”

I will miss my granddaughter, she was my pet, she was always with me. I should have been the one to go because of my age, not my Rosy,” he said.

“The last time I spoke to her was yesterday morning, she kissed me before she went to school and I promised her I’d bring her some sweets when I returned.

“I haven’t even seen her body as Police told me she had more than 70 per cent burns.”

Funeral arrangements will be made once the family receives the post-mortem examination report.

The late Natasha Nath is survived by her father, brother, aunt and grandparents.

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