Elder Family in Need After Fire

Twenty members of an extended family in Labasa are homeless and only have the clothes they were wearing following an early-morning fire that destroyed two properties yesterday.

Homeowners Felix Elder and his nephew Mike Elder, were devastated their years of hard work to build their homes was razed to the ground.

Outside their home at Namara Tiri Settlement, a depressed Mr Felix could not hold back tears as he tried to describe the impact of the fire on his family welfare.

Mr Felix, 60, said the incident has left them traumatised and their ability to reconstruct was financially hampered.

The family depends on the wages of one of his sons, who is a labourer.

“So, the cost involved with rebuilding is a massive struggle,” he said.

“We really need groceries, clothes, diapers and some housing materials to rebuild our life again.”

Seven occupants of Mr Felix’s household are children below the age of 10 years, including a one-year-old child.

For the second house, 31-year-old Pinto Industries Limited employee, Mike and his wife, father and son could not save their two- bedroom house.

“I have been living here for over 30 years, and today, I have lost my identity and hard work in this fire,” he said.

How the fire started

Mr Felix claimed the fire started from the laundry of his five-bedroom property and then spread to the next house in close proximity.

At around 3:45am, his son woke the family to alert them of a fire in the laundry room.

The National Fire Authority (NFA) was called, however, by the time they arrived, Mr Felix’s house was razed to the ground.

Plea for help 

A special plea for help is made to all Government and non-government organisations (NGOs) for clothes, cooking utensils, baby diapers, groceries and building materials. Mr Felix estimated the cost of damage at $70,000 while Mr Mike, estimated his loss to the tune of $65,000.

To reach the family for assistance, people can call: 9830991.

Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj