Winnipeg man mourns family lost in house fire
A man who lost his wife, three daughters and mother in a Winnipeg house fire fought back tears as he spoke publicly for the first time about his loss at a memorial service Monday night.
Hamid Farooq was working on the night of Jan. 24, when the fatal fire broke out in the family's home on Woodlark Place in the city's West Kildonan area.
His wife Zebunesa Sadiq, 33, his mother Shemeem Akhtar, 60, and his daughters Fayza Peyawary, nine, and Aliza Sadiq, four, all died at the scene.
Farooq's youngest daughter, four-month-old Hoorya Farooq, was critically injured and was taken off life support on Jan. 27.
"My children were the centre of my world, my mother and my wife were my strength, and I miss them," Farooq said, stopping midway to hold back tears, at a memorial held at the Manitoba Islamic Association's grand mosque.
Farooq thanked people in Winnipeg, including his friends and members of the city's Muslim community, for their support over the past week.
"I know that I must accept God's will and put my trust in God," he said. "I know my family [is] in Heaven and they are at peace."
Winnipeg police said the fire has not been deemed to be suspicious. The four family members who died on the night of the fire suffered smoke inhalation, according to investigators.
Approximately 250 people gathered at the mosque for the memorial service, including friends of the children and those who live in the neighbourhood.
"Beautiful family, absolutely. You know, [they] worked really, really hard, took good care of their kids, they were amazing," said Evelyn Fey, a neighbour.
"The dad, I don't even know how he's surviving … he's just a pillar of strength."
Shahina Siddiqui, executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association, said community support is helping Farooq through this difficult time.
"There really are no words to appropriately express what this man is going through," she said.
The family — all but the youngest daughters — came to Winnipeg from Pakistan a few years ago. Farooq's mother had been visiting from Pakistan when the fire started.
Farooq wants to bury his family members in Pakistan but it will cost about $26,000 to take the bodies there, said Siddiqui. As of Monday night, about $22,000 has been raised through donations.
"He's extremely touched. I think it has really brought the entire Winnipeg community together," Siddiqui said.
"It has just proven to us that in a tragedy like this, the human spirit rises to the challenge.”
Anyone who would like to donate can do so at any Assiniboine Credit Union. Ask for the Team 204 fund.
