Family safe after fire destroys Lord?s Bank residence

Belizeans are no strangers to disaster… and while we cannot predict how we’ll react when our turn comes to face adversity, the subject of our next story provides a textbook definition of the term “stiff upper lip.”

Moses Flores, Fire Victim
?Anything can happen. Strange things do happen in life and when it happens, you shouldn?t worry and be asking questions, why me, why this? Once you living, things going to happen.?

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Fire victim Moses Flores is taking an upbeat approach even after a fire on Tuesday evening gutted his family?s home in Lord?s Bank.

Despite attempts by the Crash and Fire Rescue unit at the Phillip Goldson International Airport, the home and its contents were completely destroyed in the blaze. Flights were on the ground and in the air, but fire-fighters say their move was worth the risk.

Norma Flores was babysitting her five year old great-grandson and both were sleeping in the front bedroom of the house when something in the room ignited. According to Flores? son, forty-two year old James Marin, somehow both would escape unharmed.

James Marin, Son of Fire Victims
?Due to the heat in the house, my mother woke up and she went outside with my grandson.?

Janelle Chanona
?They got out through the door??

James Marin
?Yes miss.?

We understand tonight that thick carpeting had covered the floor of the entire home, which caused the fire to spread quickly throughout the building. Moses Flores was on his way to Belmopan with co-workers from BATSUB when he got the bad news. He says the close knit community allayed any fears for his family.

Moses Flores
?On reaching Burrell Boom junction, I got a phone call from my granddaughter stating that our house was on fire. So I couldn?t do anything else, but I seh I can?t do anything I got to take these guys to Belmopan.?

?I am the centre of attraction. I don?t know if the hammocks or whatever, my plants and things, but we look out for one another in that area.?

Janelle Chanona
?What happens now with the investigation??

Brian Fisher, Training Officer, Natl. Fire Service
?Well presently we have an investigating crew who will be dealing with this and hopefully by the end of the week, we can determine what happened??

Janelle Chanona
?Have you made any initial findings yet? Whether it was arson, electrical??

Brian Fisher
?Well Janelle, we have not ruled out anything as yet.?

The Flores family was one of the first to move to the area and this place had been home for the past fifteen years. Since the fire, Norma Flores has moved in with relatives in Belize City…but her husband isn?t budging.

Moses Flores
?Being I retired from B.D.F., I think I?m still a tough guy. I say no mein, I?m not going anywhere, I?ll stay in my car, I?ll sleep in my car. And that?s what I did. I don?t intend to move out of the area, I just want to make sure that the house is finished, although there is another house there which I was building for me granddaughter.?

?If I get the proper help, I?ll be able to move into that house, which should belong to my granddaughter. It still will belong to her cause I will give it to her someday, that?s my promise.?

According to Moses Flores, the building was insured through a home mortgage with his credit union. Unfortunately, the contents of the house were not covered.