Police Charge Man with Arson for Friday’s House Fire at Tropical Park
Police have charged a man with Arson in connection with a fire last Friday that destroyed a house at Tropical Park in Hattieville. Sixty-eight-year-old Bernard Moore told police that he set some bushes on fire and that the fire spread to the house. But Moore was charged, and today he appeared before a Magistrate to answer to the charge of Arson. The retiree of Castle Street was offered and met bail of five thousand dollars plus a surety of the same amount on the condition that he is not to leave the country without the court’s permission. After he met bail today at court, he spoke to us. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Bernard Moore
Bernard Moore, Charged with Arson
“I was at my property and there were two big woodlice nests, and I tried to burn the woodlice nests because woodlice used to go on my house and it happened that it was a breezy day and the fire had got outta hand.”
Bernard Moore finds himself facing a charge of Arson, a crime that is punishable with jail time. Moore indicated to the court that he was shocked to be charged because he had indicated to the homeowner that he would help rebuild the house.
Bernard Moore
“It was an honest mistake. The guy that owns the building, even though me and him had spoken, according to the officer, he decided that he was going to go ahead with pressing charge. They gave me a paper that the guy said the house cost sixty-five thousand and the contents in there is seventy-five thousand.”
The Belize Police Department’s Communications Director, A.S.P Fitzroy Yearwood, shed more light on the incident.
Fitzroy Yearwood
A.S.P. Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Dept.
“The house belonged to Marlon Longsworth who was not at home at that time. He was at work. He was informed that his house was engulfed in flames and unfortunately, he lost everything in that fire.”
The Fire Department’s Station Manager, Kenneth Mortis, called the fire a freak accident.
Kenneth Mortis
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, Belize National Fire Service
“That was a freak accident that turned out costly for the occupants of the house over in Tropical Park, Hattieville area. From what the Fire Department investigation concluded was that Mr. Bernard Moore was paid to do a job in terms of cleaning an open area of land. He lit fire to a woodlice nest and apparently or for reasons unknown he turned away and left that fire unattended. If we can recall, Friday afternoon was a very windy day and the wind caught a hold of that fire and destroyed the neighbouring structure.”
The homeowner, Marlon Longsworth, had reportedly just furnished their house and moved in on Christmas Eve. The property was insured, but for future reference, Mortis warns against setting a bushfire irresponsibly.
Kenneth Mortis
“You must be doing this kind of burning with some level of responsibility. Tie in with the Forest Department or tie in with somebody specializing in an open fire. You just don’t want to light a fire and go happy go-lucky and leaving that fire unattended. This will be the outcome.”
Bernard Moore must appear in court on April fourth. Marion Ali for News Five.
