Woodlands house fire victims thankful for blessings

A WEEK after a fire ravaged through a Woodlands home, the families whose lives were irrevocably changed are still picking up the pieces but keeping a positive mind in the knowledge that no-one was injured on Saturday, 16 June.
The house in Carmicheal Place was home to over 20 people who lived there for many years.
One such occupant was Edward Myathi and his family who have lived there since 2014. Speaking to the SUN, Myathi said although they lost everything in the fire, he is grateful nobody was hurt. “That is what matters the most. Sure we lost our possessions but that can and will eventually be replaced, but if I had to lose my wife or friends in that fire, the loss would have been more devastating,” he said.

READ: Woodlands house fire leaves more than 20 homeless
Myathi was not at home at the time of the fire. He received a call from his son, who was walking up to the house, to say it was on fire. “At the time we were all at work so to get that news was frightening. I am a truck driver so I am always travelling but I had to rush home. It was life-changing and it feels like I am still dreaming. We have never been in such a situation. It changed my life. The life we were living, the home we were building was for us to survive but now it is a struggle. My wife cries for the stuff she lost, that we worked so hard for but I remind her everyday ‘you are still alive – don’t worry’,” said Myathi.

READ: Montclair family loses everything as house burns
Since the fire, donations of clothing, food and other goods have steadily poured in for the affected families, including the Myathis who expressed their gratitude. “These people are strangers to us, just random people. Yet they have opened their hearts and selflessly helped us. Thank you for giving us food, for clothing us. I pray to God to bless them for being angels in a person’s time of need,” he added. To donate items of clothing, food or furniture, contact Belinda Harcomb on 084-202-0130.

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