The Chuukese family that lost its home in a fire last week still has not found a new place to live and is facing a deadline tomorrow to leave its Red Cross-assisted hotel rooms.

"No one has come forward to offer a place for the family," family spokesman Kangichy Welle said last night. "We're not sure what's going to happen next."

A 4-year-old boy was killed and more than two dozen members of his extended family left homeless when the fire burned through their Salt Lake home Wednesday.

Since then, family members have been living in several 'Aiea hotel rooms and trying to cope with the tragedy, Welle said.

Although many in the community have come forward to help with donations of cash and household goods, nobody has been able to offer a house big enough to allow family members to stay together. "It's even going to be tough to find individual places for family members because those living in the community are already maxed out," he said.

Family members did manage to make contact over the weekend with a representative of their insurance company, but they'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if the coverage includes money for temporary housing or enough money to completely rebuild their five-bedroom home.

Meanwhile, a funeral is pending for John Rex Ceasar, who died of smoke inhalation in the fire. John Rex, who would have been 5 next month, was found in a back bedroom of the home after firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Investigators said they believe the fire was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter.

Welle said members of the Chuukese community were meeting last night to discuss fundraising ideas to help pay funeral costs. "We're looking at doing car washes or something else to earn money for the funeral," he said.

Friends also have established a fund through the Bank of Hawaii to receive donations for the family.

"We're very grateful for all the help we've received so far," Welle said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.