Deonath Maharaj had just stepped outside to dispose of some garbage when he turned around and saw a ball of fire where his seven-year-old son had been lying on a couch moments earlier.
By the time he reached his Murray Trace, San Francique home on Wednesday, flames were already spreading through the house.
“When I reached by the bend and turned back, I saw a ball of fire right where he was lying on the couch,” recalled Maharaj, 38.
“His hand and part of his pants got burned.”
Maharaj said his first instinct was to save his son before rushing back into the house to alert his wife, who had been asleep in the front bedroom and initially did not grasp the seriousness of the situation.
“I was bawling for her to come out, but she didn’t take it seriously. I started cursing. She never really heard me curse before. When she heard the curse, she realised it was serious and ran out.”
Once outside, his wife collapsed in tears as the family watched their home burn.
Amid the chaos, one of the family’s dogs, Toby, ran back into the burning house in what Maharaj believes was an attempt to reach the child. The dog did not survive.
“He went and tried saving the child. He got burned up. He died too.”
Maharaj said he made several unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the fire himself.
“I hit it with a cloth, but the sponge kept flying all over and lighting more places, so I decided to throw water. Then I saw the fire running on the water and realised I couldn’t control it.”
He estimated that the fire engulfed the house within 20 minutes.
Maharaj also recalled asking a passing cyclist for help in removing a burning couch through a window, believing it may have slowed the spread of the fire. The man declined.
Fire Prevention Officers are expected to return to the property to determine the cause of the blaze.
While Maharaj was unable to immediately calculate the family’s total losses, he said newly purchased appliances, including a refrigerator, stove and couch, were valued at between $45,000 and $50,000.
Yesterday, the scene remained one of devastation. The family’s two surviving dogs stayed close beneath a partially collapsed shed, while the household cat wandered among the debris.
Among the few items recovered were some of the boy’s toys and a bag of stationery. His school uniform and most of his other belongings were destroyed.
Siparia Mayor Doodnath Mayhroo visited the family and pledged assistance from the Siparia Borough Corporation.
“This kind of loss is really devastating to a family,” Mayhroo said. “You lose all your belongings and the history of your family. You have to start all over again.”
Mayhroo said he learned of the fire from Alderman Sherry-Ann Choonoo Lalsie, caretaker for the Siparia East/San Francique South electoral district, which became vacant following the death of former councillor Romona Victor last year. He added that he would meet with Fyzabad MP Davendranath Tancoo to discuss emergency rental assistance while the family secures temporary accommodation.
For now, Maharaj and his family are staying with relatives, although he noted that his son still has to travel to school in San Francique each day.
Despite the loss, the family hopes to rebuild on the same property. Anyone wishing to assist can contact Maharaj at 286-3752.
