Auckland Indian Family Seeks Help After House Fire

“Had we been two minutes late, we wouldn’t have survived,” recalls Sanjay, a chef and father of a seven-year-old boy, who, along with his wife, narrowly escaped a fire that destroyed their home in Remuera.

The Indian-origin family in Auckland is appealing for urgent accommodation and assistance to renew their passports lost in fire after they “lost everything in a fire” that tore through their rented two-storey home early Thursday morning.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) told RNZ that it received multiple calls shortly after 1am about the blaze on Hapua Street, Remuera.

“Around 1am, I heard a glass break while my wife and son were sleeping,” Sanjay told The Indian Weekender.

“When I opened the door, the whole living area was already up in flames. We were just two minutes away from being trapped by the fire.”

The family lived upstairs, sharing the property with two other occupants who lived on the ground floor.

FENZ shift manager Lauren Sika told RNZ that firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames upon arrival. Nine crews battled the blaze at its peak before it was contained. No one was seriously injured.

Police confirmed that all occupants were evacuated safely and treated for minor injuries.

“Police will be working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators to understand the circumstances surrounding the fire to determine next steps,” a spokesperson said.

While the immediate danger has passed, Sanjay says his family is now struggling to find a place to live.

“Police said we would be placed in emergency housing, but nothing has been arranged yet. My wife and son had to knock on a friend’s door just to have a roof over their heads,” he said.

Having lived in Auckland for 11 years, Sanjay says he feels abandoned in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“I was told to book a hotel and claim the bills later. I pay my taxes here, yet I’ve been left to fend for myself,” he said.

The family also lost all their belongings in the fire, including passports, cash, documents, and gold jewellery.

“Our Indian passports were burned. We have nothing left,” he said, his voice breaking.

 “Sab kuch hote hue bhi main zero ho gaya hoon ( despite having everything, I’ve been reduced to nothing).”

Sanjay is now appealing to the Indian community and local authorities for help in finding temporary accommodation while he works to rebuild his life.

He can be reached at veerwalsanjay@yahoo.com