Shop and Laundromat Destroyed in Late Night Fire

Unfortunately, that was not the only fire to occur this week; as just last night at the corners of New Road and Pitts Alley in Belize City, a shopkeeper locked up for the night, only to return less than two hours later, to observe his business in flames. At around seven forty-five p.m., the thirty-three year-old businessman was alerted by bystanders who saw smoke emanating from the ground floor of the two-storey cement building, where Diamond Grocery Store and Laundromat were located. Luckily, firefighters responded quickly and the flames were doused without extensive damage. While no surrounded buildings were affected, the estimated cost of damage is around five thousand Belize dollars, as he observed the damage to several items such as, an air conditioning unit, standing fans, his cell phone, and two beds and mattresses. The building was uninsured. Fortunately, all residents of the upper half of the building were able to escape unharmed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.