Fire destroys Belize City house

Not all the recent damage to Belize has been done by wind and water. On Monday evening fire gutted a family’s residence on Lizarraga Avenue in King’s Park and the victims are no less devastated than any resident of Stann Creek or Toledo.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

It is believed the fire started in the living room and then quickly spread throughout the three-bedroom bungalow. Ethel Mahler, the homeowner, says she was at work when she received the bad news.

Ethel Mahler, Fire Victim

“My neighbour called me to say that my house was on fire. When I rushed here, this is what I found, my house in flames. We haven’t saved anything, everything is destroyed.”

No one was at home at the time of the incident. Fire Chief Henry Baizar, says at this time they do not know what started the blaze but by the time they were told about the fire, it had already done its damage.

Henry Baizar, Fire Chief

“I don’t know if people still not doing what they’re supposed to be doing when they see a fire. The same time we received the call about the fire…The call came to my office on my private line and virtually at the same time the owner of the house drove into our compound telling us that there is a fire. I don’t know who the people are calling. They should call 90 to get us or call 911 to get the police to call us. It’s strange, even before we left from here, we saw the smoke, but we didn’t get any call.”

Unfortunately, the house and its contents were not insured. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.