Fire destroys home on riverbank
The cool breeze, clear water and abundant fruits make this time of year especially pleasant for those fortunate enough to live on the Belize River. But, as Patrick Jones discovered, paradise is not without problems.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Fire officials were today sifting through the burnt out remains of a blaze that left a family of four homeless. Patricia Wade, a thirty-nine year resident of Bainton Bank on the Belize River in Ladyville says nothing was out of the ordinary when she went to bed on Saturday night only to wake up to a nightmare.
Patricia Wade, Fire Victim
“Saturday night I come in about seven-thirty, gone dah bed eight o’clock and mi di sleep when time I feel heat. When I wake up the house deh pan fire.”
Wade says that she quickly got her two daughters out of the burning building, but managed to save little else.
Patricia Wade
“Only the kids save a lee suitcase of their house and the TV and the computer thing.”
Fire officials say the investigation is indicating that the fire did not start in the cement building and that an electrical source of ignition is not on the list.
Michael Middleton, Operations officer, Fire Dept.
“So far the investigation is telling me that the fire definitely started in this back area of this wooden structure.”
Patrick Jones
“Have you located an ignition point?”
Michael Middleton
“No, so far the investigation is basically in its initial stage, so presently we have not even determined the exact area of origin, but we know it’s in the back here but the exact location in the back, no.
“Definitely it’s not an electrical fault as we have the evidence in the front that the meter was taken out by the Belize Electricity Limited, so definitely an electrical fault would be ruled out.”
Patrick Jones
“Do you think that this fire might have been deliberately set by somebody?”
Michael Middleton
“At this moment, I think it would be unfair for me to speculate. We cannot just jump to any conclusion.”
The two house and their contents are valued at a little over twenty thousand dollars. Neither was insured. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Police have detained Cleveland Wade, husband of Patricia Wade, for questioning in connection with Saturday’s fire. News 5 understands that a Family Court ruling ordered Cleveland Wade out of the family home on Thursday of last week.
