10 Displaced after Fire Destroys Home in Belama

A family of ten, including children, are tonight homeless after an afternoon fire gutted the two-storey structure they lived in. It was a frightening ordeal that has left members of the family, who were at home at the time of the blaze, traumatized. Fortunately, no one was hurt but they lost everything except for a few bags of clothing.  News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Just before two p.m. today, a fire broke out the upper flat of two-storey zinc and wooden structure at 3050 Green Street in the Belama Phase Four area of Belize City. Kassandra Sutherland and several other members of the family were sitting in the yard when they heard a loud explosion. Minutes later, they saw smoke coming from the windows.

Kassandra Sutherland

Kassandra Sutherland, Homeowner

“Sitting in front of my gate and my sister just tell me smoke di come from upstairs and I try run inside fi se if I coulda mi save anything, but couldn’t; couldn’t. He was at work and my sister mi deh home yah. I mi di sit down and try get a phone call and when I see the fire, I run inside. I gone back inside, but how quick the fire blaze. I couldn’t reach upstairs fi save nothing. So I gone downstairs to try see weh I could save or whatever, but I noh get nothing – just two valise of clothes and a gas tank; that’s it.”

Sutherland’s son was inside the house at the time, but got out safely. While thankfully no one was injured in blaze, everything was destroyed. They escaped with a few bags of clothing and that which they wore. It’s a devastating incident for the family as Christmas is a few weeks away.

Kassandra Sutherland

“My son was upstairs and my baby run downstairs before me. When dehn tell me the fire, my baby run downstairs. And weh di fire blaze up high, ih just dress me back. And I tell my sister we can’t go upstairs. So I get mi baby and I bring out weh I coulda mi bring out and stand up and watch it burn.”

A sense of helplessness – that’s the heart-wrenching reality of disasters like these. For now, the family is seeking shelter as well as assistance to rebuild.

Kassandra Sutherland

“I just di beg for a lee help from anybody weh could help; that’s all.”

Duane Moody

“Do you guys have some place where you can stay?”

Kassandra Sutherland

“Not at this present moment.”

Duane Moody

“If anybody wants like to help, please let’s make an appeal. How can they?”

Kassandra Sutherland

“They could help me the best way they can.”

Duane Moody

“…whether it is material or financial; anything that they can?”

Kassandra Sutherland

“Food, drink, water, anything I will accept.”

Fire-fighters managed to extinguish the blaze, and an investigation has been launched to determine its cause. Anyone who would like to assist can call the family at 607-8651. Duane Moody for News Five.