Fire wipes out residents of Victoria Street
She left work after the news Friday night, but what was supposed to be Janelle Chanona’s last day at the job was extended a few hours by a fire not far from her home. She and cameraman Brent Toombs tore themselves away from watching the basketball game to chronicle the tragedy. Tonight’s story was then compiled by News Five’s summer intern, Faralee Gabourel.
Faralee Gabourel, Reporting
At 7:49 on Friday night, the Belize National Fire Service received a call about a fire, taking place at number 1A Victoria Street. When they arrived at the scene they found the home of fifty-nine year old Virginia Foreman consumed by ferocious flames.
Virginia Foreman, Fire Victim
“I was watching a Spanish novela and the young lady from downstairs came in, “Miss Virg” she say, “There’s a fire downstairs.” But I thought she was kidding so I didn’t pay much attention. When she say “Yes Miss Virg there’s a fire downstairs”, I smelled smoke and I ran downstairs. And when I gone downstairs, it’s one room, it started from one of the rooms because they have rooms for rent, in one of the rooms it started. Then when I saw a guy coming with bucket to throw water, but then the gas tank went off, then of course I have two other gas tanks and I didn’t have time to grab anything, I just ran out and of course I was planning to leave the country tomorrow so even my plane ticket, my passport, money, everything just stayed right there on my desk, I have a desk upstairs. Everything stayed right there because I just went today to settle all my final things before I leave the country tomorrow.”
“I got so confused too, I just can’t believe it. When they tell you your house is burning, you know, it feels like an Anancy story, you don’t believe it’s really true, and I can’t believe its my house. I’m actually looking at the house and I can’t believe its my house burning, I think its a dream.”
But it wasn’t a dream, in fact it was all very real, and Fire Chief Henry Baizar suspects negligence.
Fire Chief, Henry Baizar
“From our investigation, it reveals that it was not of a electrical nature so we are looking and suspecting that it was due to negligence. Someone must have left something on in the house or a cigarette or something that caused the fire.”
Baizar also says that arson is not suspected as the house was not insured.
Virginia Foreman
“I’m so distressed because just yesterday I went to the insurance to insure my house because I said I don’t want to leave without insuring the house this is the hurricane season, but I was delayed yesterday, so I was planning to do it today or maybe later on and it just happened I didn’t.”
And so with nothing but charred remains of what used to be her life, Virginia Foreman is determined to start from scratch.
Virginia Foreman
“I lost everything but I think with the grace of the good Lord I have health and strength, I’ll start all over again.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Faralee Gabourel.”
The Victoria Street fire was only the first of three blazes that took place in Belize City over the weekend. At one twenty-six on Saturday afternoon, firemen were called to the scene of a small fire at a home on the corner of Eve Street and Mortuary Lane. The flames were soon brought under control and investigations now conclude that the blaze was caused by an iron being left plugged in. The second fire occurred on Saturday night around eight-forty at a house on Hunter’s Lane. Fire Chief Henry Baizar says that they are still investigating to find out exactly what took place since the lower flat of the house was abandoned. Late reports this afternoon indicate that a fire in the St. Martin de Porres area has destroyed a small wooden house and left an entire family homeless.
