Four year old child dies in Orange Walk fire

And from Belize City to Orange Walk Town where a mid-morning fire took the life of a little girl. Four year old, Ellyahnah Guy perished in the flames that started in her bedroom located on the southwest corner of the house. Her parents and siblings were all at home when they received a call from a neighbor that alerted of the fire. The family got out of the house, but according to the police and the fire department the child sought refuge from the blaze in a closet, and was subsequently trapped in the blaze. Corporal Jeffrey Williams of the Orange Walk Police told News Five about the tragic incident.

Cpl. Jeffrey Williams, Lead Investigator, O.W. Police Department
“Our preliminary investigations reveal that the fire started from the baby’s room. The baby was found in the closet and she was retrieved and taken to the hospital.”

Orin Smith, Fire Chief, Orange Walk Department
“Shortly after ten, we had a call from a concerned caller, female, who told us that there was a fire within this area. Immediately after receiving the call, we dispatched. On the way here, we could have seen the slight smoke in the distance. After we arrived, someone shouted to us that there might be someone, a young child, still inside the building. I immediately put on a breathing apparatus which is outside the truck so we can’t really done that on the inside so I immediately done that one and ran inside—not taking any fire hose or anything with me. I ran in to try and find the young child and take her out but when I got into the building and I located the child and she could not have been saved.”

According to Smith, attempts were made by the child’s parents and neighbors to rescue her but the severe blaze and heat prevented them. The child was found dead in the closet where investigators say they located the residue of a lighter which it is believed caused the fire.