Garbutt Family of 7 Loses Homes in Belize City Fire
Several members of the Garbutt family are tonight without a roof over their heads after a fire consumed a pair of structures within the family yard on Gentle Avenue. Most of the family was not at home, except for Errol Garbutt. The fire broke out inside his home before spreading quickly to the adjacent two-storey concrete and wooden structure. Everything was lost and quick response from the National Fire Service prevented the fire from spreading to two other structures in the yard. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Just before midday today, a fire broke out inside a wooden and zinc structure on Gentle Avenue. It was home for fifty-three-year-old Errol Garbutt, who was outside when he was alerted of the fire. Garbutt received burns to his hand when he attempted to get inside the structure.
Errol Garbutt
Errol Garbutt, Fire Victim
“I lock the house and I gone to the shop and I mi deh outside di sit down when the workers over this side hail me and tell me my house under fire.”
Duane Moody
“Talk to us about what you saw when you got inside.”
Errol Garbutt
“I neva get inside. No I couldn’t get the lock open. Yes, I get mi hand burn sake ah try get the lock.”
Within minutes, Garbutt’s house and the adjacent two-storey structure were engulfed in flames. Three adults occupied the upper flat, including two of Errol’s siblings, and their three children. Firefighters and police were quick to arrive on the scene and the blaze was contained. Fortunately, it did not spread to two other structures within the family property.
Esmond Garbutt
Esmond Garbutt, Resident
“When I come out I just see the fire outta commotion. I just try help throw water, but couldn’t save nothing.”
Reporter
“Everything from inside burnt up?”
Esmond Garbutt
“Everything. Nothing saved.”
Reporter
“What did you lose?”
Esmond Garbutt
“Well everything weh mi ina ih house. The pot set, stove, bed, everything.”
Duane Moody
“You lived upstairs or downstairs?”
Esmond Garbutt
“I lived downstairs but my bredda dehn deh upstairs.”
Reporter
“And was anything for you destroyed?”
Esmond Garbutt
“Nothing destroyed for me cause I mi deh ina my own house downstairs.”
Reporter
“So it started in your house?”
Errol Garbutt
“Yes ma’am.”
Reporter
“Do you know what started it?”
Errol Garbutt
“I do not know ma’am.”
Reporter
“You have electricity?”
Errol Garbutt
“Yes ma’am, one drop of current.”
Reporter
“You don’t have candles or anything?”
Errol Garbutt
“Nothing. Nothing mi light.”
Reporter
“Now what all did you lose?”
Errol Garbutt
“Everything. All mi clothes, mi passport, birth paper, everything, money. I mi have one-fifty ina wah tennis. (Aye)”
Station Supervisor Kenneth Mortis, of the National Fire Service, shared preliminarily what the department believes may have causes the blaze.
Kenneth Mortis
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, National Fire Service
“The fire was concentrated in the upper portion of the building and when we got into operation to extinguish the fire that was when we learnt that there was another partial structure adjacent to that original structure. Mister Errol Garbutt was the resident of this sole eight by ten where the fire originated from and then we had the Gentle brothers with a common-law life and three kids. While we know that the building had a registered meter to B.E.L., we are still leading towards the fact of an electrical malfunction for the main reason is that his structure was receiving electricity from the adjacent building. While Mister Garbutt says that he was sure that he didn’t leave anything running in terms of a fan, we are still trying to directly determine exactly the cause of this fire. The information is still forthcoming and I am hoping that by the end of the day, we can definitely say this is the cause of that particular fire.”
None of the structures were insured. Anyone who would like to assist the Garbutt family with recovering from this disaster can reach them at 622-9198. Duane Moody for News Five.
