Family mourns death of girl, 5, in house fire

By HEZRON KISING
A five-year-old girl burnt to death when her family home caught fire after midday yesterday in Hohola, Port Moresby.
Quincy Stanley, whose family is originally from Wabag in Enga, was in the house when the fire started at about 1.30pm, her grandfather told The National.
Three other children of about the same age were in the house.
Quincy was unable to make it out because of the smoke and heat and was trapped in the house, grandfather Wasa Kule said.
Kul said the fire took him and his family members by surprise.
He was busy in the family’s canteen, attached to the house, making orange juice when he heard people screaming “haus paiya” (house on fire).
“I ran out of the store thinking someone else’s house was on fire. I couldn’t find anything in front of me, but when I turned around I saw my own house in flames with thick black, grey smoke coming out the door and windows,” he said.
“I ran to the house got a timber and tried to disconnect the electricity power line to the house. After disconnecting it I realised that the fire had covered most parts of the house.
“Confused, I still called out to my children and my grandchildren’s names to see if there was anyone in the house.
“Three of my grandchildren replied to me outside while the other one (Quincy) was calling from inside of the house.
“Realising that she was trapped inside, her father and I tried breaking through to rescue here, but we couldn’t get through because the fire was too strong with a lot of smoke, making it difficult to breathe and look around.
“We rushed out when (fire) started burning us.
“Due to the strong winds in the afternoon and the location of the house on the hill, the fire spread quickly and engulfed the house, making it difficult for anyone to attempt rescue at the time.”
Police said they could not comment on the incident immediately.