Fire may have been set by burglars

While most Belizeans were sleeping early this morning, people living in one Southside Belize City neighbourhood were awakened by the heat, light, and sound of fire. As News 5’s Patrick Jones reports, although no one was hurt in the empty building, the disaster could have been much worse.

Patrick Jones, Reporting

The fire at number three Magazine Road gutted the business establishment of grocer Paul Han. Fire Chief Henry Baizar says when the first trucks arrive at the scene the back of the building was already engulfed in flames.

Henry Baizar, Fire Chief

?Not very much damage; damage was only done to the rear part of the building. The front of the building got smoke and heat and some water damage.?

Initial investigations indicate that the fire may have been the result of a robbery and the perpetrator, or perpetrators, tried to cover their tracks.

Henry Baizar

?It seems as if though someone broke into the building because we found everything in the building turned upside down. And probably after they finished what they had to do, they virtually set the building on fire. That is what we have ascertained so far.?

Baizar says tests are being done on some material found among the rubble to conclusively determine the ignition source. With at least one other building nearby, Thursday night?s blaze could have been much worse.

Henry Baizar, Fire Chief

?Yes, it was very close in truth because when we got there the fire was in the building and was about to come out of the building. And you know the next house is about two, three feet away from the building, so virtually the guys did an extremely good job out there. They got out there, got inside the building–because they had to go inside the building to get the fire out–and they put it out pretty quick.?

Patrick Jones, for News Five.