Fire Official Says They Faced Several Challenges in Fighting Caye Caulker Fire
The fire in Caye Caulker last Friday completely gutted two buildings and for a moment, posed a huge threat to others in close proximity. So what could have been another fire extinguished by a crew that experienced no obstacles, ended up being a challenge for the fire fighters. The fire brought to the fore several challenges for the Belize National Fire Service and today the Chairlady of Caye Caulker, Seleny Villanueva-Pott and Station Officer for the National Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis, spoke to those challenges. But still, the blaze did not claim any lives or caused any injury. News Five’s Marion Ali filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The fire that broke out at around eight on Friday morning in Caye Caulker pushed the lean firefighting team on the island to its limits. Station Officer with the Belize Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis said that the Caye Caulker Fire Department found itself having to fight a raging inferno, which completely gutted the Sports Bar and La Cubana Restaurant.
Kenneth Mortis
Kenneth Mortis, Station Office, National Fire Service
“What we once knew as an available water head – over time, an establishment is being built and then it cuts off the water supply for us. Nevertheless, we must continue the job that we are paid and trained to do, which is firefighting. We managed to draw water some 1,300 feet away from the location. That was when we faced a slight mechanical problem that was probably rendered after a couple of minutes. You look at buildings almost touching high tension wires, almost touching lampposts. It has a serious effect that poses a threat. You know, we build and build for years and years and nothing happens, and then when something like this happens, what triggers are pointing blame game fingers, so to speak. You know, and that isn’t something that we want to continue down this road, so, I am hoping that again, this is, this is only a hope that we can sit with the proper authorities that be and set out some kind of guideline that is in place in terms of distances between buildings, between fences.”
The estimate of the loss suffered by the owner of the Sports Bar is not known and the business was not insured, but La Cubana Restaurant suffered about seven hundred and seventy thousand dollars in losses, but was insured. Today, the chairlady of the village, Seleny Villanueva-Pott raised the concern that there is an urgent need for more trained fire personnel on the island and that was a glaring observation for everyone who was at the fire scene on Friday.
Seleny Villanueva Pott
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caulker Caulker
“It’s very important that we have more than three firemen, you know. Caye Caulker is not as tiny as it used to be with all these developments that are springing up. So it’s important that we better equip ourselves with these things.”
Station Officer for the National Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis said that the void will be filled in less than a year.
Kenneth Mortis
“While we were fortunate enough that the civilians, though they might not be happy based on the outcome, they played a crucial role in assisting the fire department with the bucket brigade. That combined with our firefighting effort managed to limit the disaster to two structures.”
The bucket brigade – a common sight whenever there is a big fire in Caye Caulker – was evident very soon during the blaze. Residents and visitors put their shoulders to the proverbial wheel. They did as they’ve done before when fires have threatened their village. The islanders organized themselves into an important fire-fighting team and that, Chairlady Pott said, resulted in preventing the fire from spreading.
Seleny Villanueva Pott
“Once we noticed that the fire trucks and the firemen were having their difficulties, that’s when, you know, we decided to mobilize the bucket brigade. And honestly, that is what saved two buildings. It saved the Bambooz building, and it saved the Hol Chan Marine Reserve building. That never fails. That’s one thing, it never fails. And, yeah, the people were very adamant in saving the Bambooz. You know, for a minute we thought we would have lost the entire block, but I say that this time we fought with our hands and heart because nobody wanted to give up and everybody was like, “No, we won’t let this one catch on fire and really didn’t.”
Mortis advised that smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are two important pieces of equipment that often times save lives and property, once they are properly used. Marion Ali for News Five.
Caye Caulker Chairlady Pott says that the Village Council also asks the Ministry of Natural Resources to intervene in those situations when property owners build obstructions on the beach front, preventing vehicles from getting through, such as what happened on Friday, when the fire trucks could not access the fire scene from the beach front.
