Morning brush fire concerns Unity St. residents

It’s not uncommon to see someone burning bush or garbage in Belize City but the practice is illegal. And as one man found out today, it’s illegal for a very good reason. According to residents on Unity Street, just after eight this morning a homeowner was trying to clear his property of high grass but strong winds carried the flames to an adjacent lot and set fire to a mound of wood. The situation alarmed resident Anthony Sutherland who quickly alerted authorities.

Anthony Sutherland, Unity Street Resident
“When I gawn da dacta when I come back I see the fire under way deh and the bally ova di out it. I ask ah weh deh go awn and he seh ih light the fiyah and the fiyah get weh from ah. And dah so I had to call fu the fiyah engine cause the heat. I can’t even stand pan me veranda deh, the heat di get to severe.”

Janelle Chanona
“How comfortable does it make you feel that the fire me deh so close and you live inna wah board house?”

Anthony Sutherland
“I neva build to much worries cause me house insured but den still yet I neva wah eh bun down eeda. That’s why I call fu the fiyah truck.”

Janelle Chanona
“And this dah something he always do?”

Anthony Sutherland
“He always di light fiyah bout the place. But this time I tell ah he shoulda ah mi cut wah fiyah pass mek the fiyah no just get weh like dat.”

The public is reminded that it is illegal for anyone to use open flames to destroy garbage or brush within city limits.