Fire Destroys House at Pau

A fire has destroyed a student village house at Pacific Adventist University (PAU).

Pastor Rex Koi’s house caught fire just after 4pm on Thursday, April 3. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown.

Pastor Koi returned from meetings at the Central Papuan Conference headquarters to find his house engulfed in flames. Members of his extended family—as well as his infant daughter—were in the house at the time, but all were safely evacuated.

Pastor Koi’s wife, a final-year Business student, was in class when the incident occurred.

Students and staff members tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire. However, they did manage to save a nearby duplex from serious damage.

The PAU community is very grateful to God that nobody was hurt, and has asked for prayers for the family.

Dr Barry Oliver, the university’s chancellor and chairperson of the PAU Council, said he was thankful to God that nobody was harmed and expressed his sadness for the loss of personal property.

A fund will be set up to assist the Koi family as they look to rebuild.