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Dec 14, 2001

Fire leaves Belize City family homeless

There’s never a good time for a fire, but the week before Christmas is about as bad as they come. The latest blaze began just as this newscast was getting underway Thursday night. Jacqueline Woods has the story.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

It did not take the National Fire Service long to bring the blaze under control, and when the smoke cleared, a total of two buildings had been affected. The two-storey house at number eleven Eve Street, which was owned by Andrew and Mary Gill, was completely destroyed. While a guesthouse belonging to a Chinese businesswoman only received damages to the back of the building. According to Mary Gill, who work next-door at Femagra Industries, she was at her job when co-workers shouted that there was smoke coming from a house.

Mary Gill, Fire Victim

“Well, I was inside and one of the salesman told me that he saw smoke. So I just ran out and I looked up and followed the smoke, and saw it coming from my bedroom window. I asked them to go there, because my son was inside sleeping, and I asked them to please wake him. And they came back to me and I said, “No you have to go back because he is inside.” So they went there and I don’t know if they shouted or knocked, or whatever, but afterwards he came inside to me.”

The fired started at the Gill’s residence after a candle was left lit inside the living room. Fire officials say the family has told them that the house has no electricity and that night their son lit two candles and apparently fell asleep. The young boy was awakened by the intense heat and managed to escape unhurt. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.

The Gill family is staying with relatives and they are receiving some assistance from Femagra Industries. None of the buildings were insured.


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