Family Loses All In Fire
Homeowner Appal Naidu said he was in his living room when he saw smoke coming from the floor.
Friday 29 October 2021 | 09:27
Apal Naidu with wife Moni Krishna and their four children Avia, Aahir, Arush and Advick Naidu after their home was destroyed in a fire at Nanuku Settlement in Vatuwaqa on October 28, 2021.. Photos: Ronald Kumar
Muni Krishnan stood without shoes wearing her raggedy clothes, in her arms, she held her two-year-old Ahir Naidu and around her were three other children. All of them were barefoot.
Apart from the clothes on their back the Naidu family lost everything they had in a midday fire at the Nanuku Informal Settlement.
They had called the timber and corrugated structure their home for 11 years. The house is only accessible by foot.
Related stories
Homeowner
Homeowner Appal Naidu said he was in his living room when he saw smoke coming from the floor.
“I realised the house was on fire and took my wife and children outside as fast as I could,” Mr Naidu said.
“I have not been able to save a thing.”
Wife Muni Krishnan was emotional as she contemplated what they had lost.
Mr Naidu is a carpenter while his wife stays home. He said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected his work and the fire would impact their plans to rebuild their house.
National Fire Authority
Dhan Lakshmi, whose house is next to the Naidu’s, said her house was filled with smoke as well and her family had to run out.
Ms Lakshmi said the firefighters responded in time and ensured that no other homes caught fire.
As in all informal settlements, houses are barely metres apart. The work done by the firefighters was crucial in ensuring the flames did not spread to multiple houses.
The firefighters ran the hose from the trucks to the home through the tracks leading to the house.
The National Fire Authority will investigate to find the cause of the fire.
In the past six days, NFA has attended six house fires which have left more than 30 people homeless.
Feedback: shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj
