Southside fire leaves families homeless

An early morning fire on southside Belize City has left several people homeless. News Five’s Patrick Jones reports.

According to Fire Chief Henry Baizar, the blaze erupted at the corner of North Creek Road and Curasow Street shortly after midnight. The fire service responded with two trucks.

Henry Baizar, Fire Chief

“They got there and they found that these two little, houses or shacks, I don’t know how you would call them, were on fire. They quickly put the fire out and by time they got there, they were almost completely burn and what not.”

Victoria Duran, who lost all her belongings in the early morning fire, told News Five that she was alerted of the fire by a neighbor.

Victoria Duran, Fire Victim

“I was asleep and about twelve-thirty, I heard the girl to the back holler, fire, fire, and when I open my eyes, I saw the blaze coming from behind her house, the house behind me. And the only thing I do was grab my son and run.”

Baizar says that early into the investigation the possibility of electrical fault as a cause of the fire was ruled out.

Henry Baizar

“The fire started from within one of the rooms and we determined there was no electricity in the building and there was a candle left lighted in the building and that is exactly how the fire started and spread unto the remainder of the building.”

At least four families were left homeless in this morning’s fire. Patrick Jones for News Five.

Officials say the value of the house nor its contents, has not yet been determined. The house was not insured.