A seven year old boy's attempt to stop a fire from destroying his house proved futile and left seven people homeless after a fire destroyed their house in Qarasarau village in Pacific Harbour last night.

The National Fire Authority said they received a call from the police about the fire and when fire fighters arrived at the scene, they found a lean-to house and a bure type dwelling fully engulfed in flames.

The fire fighters fought hard to contain the fire as the intensity had posed a threat to nearby homes.

The NFA also said windy conditions caused the fire to spread quickly to the nearby bure, engulfing it completely.
 
The lean-to house was made up of timber and corrugated iron and compromised one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and dining room while the bure type building had timber lining its walls and thatched roof.
 
The seven year old boy was sleeping in the lean-to house while his mother and 2 siblings were with the neighbours next door.

Initial investigations revealed that the probable cause of fire was a candle that was lit and left in a toy cup hung above the bed where the boy was sleeping.