Boy dies in Ha'akame house fire [1]
Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 17:07
Mahe Fonohema (10) died in a house fire last night Wednesday, 24 February at Ha’akame in Tongatapu.
The Fire Commissioner Lofia Heimuli said today the fire was reported to them at around 11:13pm by a neighbour.
The boy was at home sleeping with his older brothers, aged 12 and 11, while both their parents were away. The two eldest were said to have been sleeping in the living room, while the victim was sleeping by himself in the bedroom.
It is alleged that when the fire broke out the eldest brother woke-up and alerted his younger brother whom he slept with and managed to escape. The victim was not able to escape.
Heimuli said by the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, the small house had collapsed.
"Based on information now the boys were said to have used a candle that might have caused the fire but our investigation continues. The father was reported to have been out fishing while the mother had gone out somewhere," he said.