Family flees as fire engulfs home

A FAMILY is happy to be alive after a fire engulfed their home early on Friday morning.
Amos Yasi, of Sumia village in the Lower Mendi local-level government area of Imbonggu, Southern Highlands, and wife Shirley managed to get their children, aged between one and three, out of the house before the fire gutted it.
“It was through the help of God that we escaped,” Yasi said.
“I am happy that my family is alive and we are looking forward to rebuilding our lives after everything was lost.”
The fire began in the kitchen and then burnt down the semi-permanent home.
Yasi was the last one to leave the kitchen before they slept and was sure he had covered the ashes properly.
Yasi and his family are now living in a temporary home at the village.
He is a pastor, welder, carpenter and mechanic who graduated from the Mendi Vocational Centre. Shirley said it was the first time she had been caught in a fire.
“I was confused what to do after seeing the flame and smoke,” she said.
“I made sure my children were safe outside and tried to get some properties out.
“But it was too late.”
She said as long as the family was alive, it was important as other properties lost in the fire would be donated to them with the help of God.