KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.Resident recalls how fire took his business

Resident recalls how fire took his business

by Janjeera Hail

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a total nightmare: your home and your family business in flames.  One local resident shared his horrific ordeal and his plans to bring his business out of the ashes.

"I was just thinking it wasn't something big. You never have something like this. It's hard to imagine," explained Fumi Kajiyama.  But as fire spread at a familiar building along Route 10 Thursday night, it quickly engulfed the Mangilao Retail Store in flames.  What Kajiyama, the store's owner, says started as an electrical fire from the air conditioning, exploded when it reached his stock of butane cans while he, his brother, sister, nephew, and family pet were upstairs. 

When they smelt the smoke, his brother took swift action and called the Guam Fire Department,, which responded within minutes. GFD Spokesperson Joey San Nicolas said, "At approximately midnight we had a 911 call for a reported structural fire in Mangilao. We rolled out our responder units from Barrigada and Yona, both the fire trucks and a medic and they arrived and confirmed that there was a fire at the Mangilao Retail Store."

With four fire trucks on the scene, Kajiyama's family was rescued without injury and the flames were quickly subdued - but not before they had wreaked their havoc on his family business.  "Just the groceries and stuff alone we're talking like $80,000 or so, but the 8' meat cooler and stuff like that, those things are $40,000 when you buy it new, and they kind of add up," he estimated.

Despite the tremendous loss, Kajiyama is optimistic the store will be able to bounce back.  While he doesn't have business insurance to cover a disaster like this, he's in communication with the Small Business Administration and the local Red Cross chapter to come up with solutions so that the Mangilao Retail Store can reopen.  He's also receiving a helping hand from Mangilao Mayor Nito Blas.

The mayor said, "They're very active and very generous. They support the community and that's why we're trying to help them clean this and maybe and get back to business again."  Blas says that his office will begin helping Kajiyama clear trash and debris on Monday. Those interested in volunteering can get involved by contacting the Mangilao Mayor's Office.

There's no doubt that Mr. Kajiyama faces a hefty challenge in picking up the pieces but after 37 years of business, the Mangilao Retail Store isn't giving up.