Fire destroys Belize City House

In the rest of the country outside the nation’s capital life went on today…and that life includes its share of tragedies, like fire.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
No one was home at number fifty two Castle Street when a fire started from inside the two bedroom structure at approximately two this afternoon. According to Gigi Bowen, for the past two years she lived at the residence with her common law husband. Today, the couple were at work when they received the terrible news.

Gigi Bowen, Fire Victim
?I no really see nothing. All I do, the when I reached here, I bruk down. I no really noticed nothing. I not even gone inside. Dah just a little while I went inside the house and see what happen.?

The blaze destroyed fifty percent of the building=s interior and burned most of the electrical appliances and furniture. Family friends and neighbours tried to help but it was too late. Fire fighters did manage to stop the flames from spreading to nearby houses and immediately began the work of determining what caused the fire.

Jacqueline Woods
?I noticed the fire fighters are concentrating in a back room. Do you believe this is where it started??

Michael Middleton, Operations Manager, National Fire Department
? Yes, because on arrival that is where they saw the flames coming out of that rear room.?

Jacqueline Woods
?From the damage you have seen done to the ceiling, do you believe the fire may have been burning for quite some time??

Michael Middleton
?Yes, definitely. The fire definitely was burning for some time because of the damage done especially to that room and the way it spread throughout the building.?

A preliminary report suggests the fire may have been electrical. Bowen says she is grateful to the neighbours and friends who tried to assist.