Mysterious Fire Wipes Out Andrew Fuller

A Belize City man’s house burnt down on Friday night. Andrew Fuller lost everything when the fire destroyed his home on Price Alley off Victoria Street on north side Belize City.  But the fire didn’t start on his property; it originated from a neighbouring derelict building. The Fire Department says it is not clear what caused the blaze. News Five’s Andrea Polanco has more.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Just before midnight on Friday, forty-one-year-old Andrew Fuller was asleep inside his home in Price Alley, Belize City. He was awakened by a heat coming from outside. When he opened his window he saw that the house next to his was on fire. It was an old, abandoned house and the flames spread quickly to his property. He narrowly escaped with his life. He lost everything in the blaze.

Via Phone: Andrew Fuller, Fire Victim

“I was kinda tired and I drop asleep. I was woken up by the gushing flames from the neighbors. It happened so quickly, I couldn’t get anything out of my house and everything got destroyed.  I just get fortunately lucky to feel that heat weh mi di come on me. I know it coulda mi be worse because I could ah mi get trapped in my house. I have a fear still ina my mind that I could ah mi get killed.”

The fire department confirmed that the fire started from the abandoned building, but the cause is not clear.

Orin Smith

Orin Smith, Station Officer, National Fire Service

“The fire originated from a structure that was ten by twenty in size, elevated some six feet off ground, owned by a person who resides in the U.S. That structure we understand had occupant and no utility.”

Andrea Polanco

“What can you tell us about the cause of the fire?”

Orin Smith

“The fire originated on the south side of the structure and we could not locate an ignition source within the area of origin. It was explained to us that the structure was utilized by vagrants who tend to occupy the structure from time to time, basically.”

The homeless and others in the area would use the old structure as a hang out spot; but no one was reported to have been seen around the property at the time of the fire.

Via Phone: Andrew Fuller

“It is an abandoned building but the family for the people, they have some younger descendants weh go and hang out there. So, they would know more about the house and whatever caused it because they always hang out there and gather as young people.”

Andrea Polanco

“Did anyone report seeing anyone around the house at the time of the fire?”

Orin Smith

“No. We were told by residents of the area that the house was used as a hang out joint for those individuals.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.