Former Lae councillor loses home, belongings to fire

 By JUNIOR UKAHA 

A FORMER councillor in Lae, Morobe, lost his home, trade store and poultry shed to fire on Sunday.

Alois Pandum, 48, from Mondia in the Gembogl district, Chimbu, a former councillor for ward 11 in the Wampar LLG, Huon district, Morobe, and his family were among other members of the community taking part in a mediation gathering at Bewapi, 9-Mile, when his house caught fire.

The fire started around 11am and razed everything within 30 minutes. 

The mediation gathering was in relation to the killing of a woman. 

“We saw smoke and tried to put out the fire but it spread quickly and burnt down the whole building,” he said.

The raging flames than spread to his trade store and poultry shed located metres from each other.

“I lost my store money and goods, including everything in my house,” he said.

The four-bedroom house which was built 25 years ago and the other properties he estimated, would cost around K200,000.

Pandum and wife Ellis said they suspected that the fire started from the main switch and spread to the other parts of the building because smoke and sparks came from where the switch was located.

The couple have seven children with the eldest attending the Lae Polytechnic Institute. Two others are doing Grade 6 at the Christ the King Primary School outside Lae.

“We don’t know where we will sleep as our only home is now ashes,” he said.

“I appeal to kind-hearted citizens to help me and my family to rebuild our home.”

Anyone willing to help the family can contact Pandum on 7399 0843.