Raul’s roses yell fire and garden burns to the ground
The Fire Department headed to the Northern Highway around five thirty this morning after they received frantic calls from various persons. Raul’s Rose Garden, the famous brothel, was up in flames. All that was left by the time the flames consumed the interior of the concrete structure, was debris. And if you are wondering, the patrons had left, but the roses were in deep slumber inside building when the fire broke. Fortunately, there was no damage to life or limb. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Patrons of Raul’s Rose Garden are tonight without a place for adult entertainment as the popular brothel near mile eight on the Northern Highway went up in smoke during an early morning fire. The identifiable flower-patterned paint job on its outside had quickly turned the building into a landmark for motorists making their commute to and from the city. The business, on the other hand, was famous for wild parties. But it all came to a fiery end around five a.m. when security personnel Keith McNabb was awakened by the commotion inside.
Keith McNabb, Security, Raul’s Rose Garden
“Everybody was asleep so and like the fire woke up like the first, the occupants closest to the room where the fire started off and it blocked off one of the exits so we had to evacuate everybody through the restroom area and everybody got out safely, you know that’s about it. It started in the middle right here and then it just spread from there throughout the middle part and went to the back. It just flamed up everywhere.”
While McNabb was able to safely evacuate its occupants there was very little that could have been done to extinguish the blaze. Despite efforts from the fire department the building was completely gutted leaving in its wake scattered sheets of zinc everywhere. The plastering on the concrete walls has flaked as a result of the intense heat.
Raul Magana
Raul Magana, Proprietor, Raul’s Rose Garden
“I received a call around five o’clock this morning that the place was on fire. I immediately called the police and the police told me that someone [had] already called them so they called the fire engine. When I got here I met the police, I met the fire engine and the rest is history.”
According to McNabb they had only retired a few hours earlier when he heard the frantic screams of his colleagues from an adjacent room.
Keith McNabb
Keith McNabb
“At first I thought it was somebody who was inside the place robbing the place [or] sticking up the people but when I opened the door smoke came in so I knew automatically it was a fire. I ran down to the end of the corridor here to down there to check to see who was inside there. It was only like three females and they were locked [up] in this side So I just took them around, opened the entrance right here and let them out.”
What were once beds are now singed lumber. There is debris all over its interior. Businessman Raul Magana Sr. established Rose Garden over thirty years ago and since then it became a premier attraction for those seeking nocturnal delight.
Raul Magana
“I opened in February 1981. It wasn’t as big as it is now but that’s when I started.”
Isani Cayetano
“Do you believe that this may have been a case of arson? Do you know if it’s an electrical fire or what the cause of it [was] based on preliminary investigation by the fire authorities?”
Raul Magana
“No. We don’t know what caused the fire. We know for sure the fire started in the office area, by the office where we have some of the rooms located. That’s where we saw the smoke and the night time security took everyone out and it just burned as quick as they could think about it.”
Amongst the rubble were two poodle puppies. Inside the metal bucket being carried away here are the charred remains of one. The fire, McNabb believes, may have been the result of an electrical short.
Keith McNabb
“I guess it was probably one of the wires in some one of the rooms or maybe a fan or something that was left on. I can’t say because the fire prohibited us from looking.”
Luckily for its owner the concrete structure was under financial protection against this particular type of loss.
Raul Magana
“Well the building is insured. It’s insured with Home Protectors Insurance but that’s the only insurance I have.”
Isani Cayetano
“Speak to us now on loss to business. How does this affect you in terms of your ability to conduct your business as usual?”
Raul Magana
“Well the building is definitely totaled, everything is burnt out. So for me to reinvest in it I have to start from scratch.”
Isani Cayetano
“And an estimated value?”
Raul Magana
“It’s valued; the real value is around eight hundred thousand [dollars].”
An investigation into the cause of the fire is being conducted by the National Fire Service. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
According to family members, they intend to rebuild but change the line of business.
LOL @ Headlines!
Where will all the Belize City Councilers go now?
That is a good place to start the cleansing of the land.
Rose Garden…. good times… I will miss it…
FIYAH BUN DUNG BABYLON. Best news ever….
I guess business was bad.This $#!% smells like fish to me.
BATSUB closes, and soon after the insured brothel burns down. Do the math!
GOOD RIDDANCE, GLAD NO ONE GOT HURT.
Amen, to Mylegacyb4mypeople!!! Let’s pray that the new line of business he starts will be one that is reputable and a blessing, rather than a curse to the community and land. Pray also that The Holy Spirit will speak to Mr. Magana’s heart and get him on the right path.
rebuild quickly. the last thing we in Bze need is more people walking around with pent-up pressure.
LOL @ trudibel, WTF & funbze.
wives must be happy now… lol
rumor has it that the “roses” are now in San Pedro Town…the owner has a branch on the island…its disguised as a bar..but everyone knows what it really is….
Da bout time this place bun down lol
where will all these homeless women go?
Some leftover justice for David Zabaneh junior who was murdered by Gurkhas outside that disgusting place.
I NEED TO QUOTE OUTCAST’S ALBUM the love below
“l KNOW YOU LIKE YOU LIKE TO THINK YOUR SH… DON’T STINK BUT LEAN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER BUT RAUL’S ROSES REALLY SMELL LIKE POO POO POO”
God knows why it was burnt maybe it’s a help and cleansing for the community and the country since it was the only brothel working in the country.
Where will everyone go when they need to get away from their spouse now. lol Where will the men stop to get bread now. lol
This organization has been a wonderful center for social good …rebuild soon!
GOOD RIDDANCE! Let’s build a church in it’s place!
justice for zabaneh? the little bastard was in a place where he wasn’t supposed to be and started a fight. it’s a shame. imma really going to miss that place.
This is the world oldest proffession.Before Rose Garden there was Conti,and Vida Alegre.Just because Rose Garden got destroyed by fire will not be the end of prostitution.Legalize it,and tax it.That is the best way to go.
Poor girls. Hope they find some place to shelter before another Rauls is built from Insurance Money.
Don’t picture him building back in a hurry especially considering who he’s insured with…good luck with that! How in the world did he get that eight hundred thousand dollar value for that “crab-louse” motel??? Unless he counted his “girls” as part of the value of his assets. I guess “bread” never devalue! That hot snatch is like gold!
Raul needs to give his employees an unemployment check until he rebuilds.
LOL @ Kay
John Boy, right on!
Fiyah Bun! Jah Nah Sleep, Workers of iniquity will suffer!
nationalize it, legalize it. sell it, strong it back in the best interest of hte country. we need to secure that pum pum.
forgive my naivite. was the garden a whore house? Is prostitution legal in belize or do you have to pay for dinner and drinks for a maybe when you can get a definite by paying up front. There is nothing like a bj to relax a man. hoity toity women wont deliver but a $20.00 hooker will.
To Elgin Martinez; Who says he won’t?
And if you do, how do you know this?
This is a foreshadowing of destructions to come upon the jewel!
That’s my brother Keith and I love u stay up bro
Tom B: What’s you’re point?I am still trying decipher you statement.
Rauls , rose garden was not only a brotel , it was a meal ticket to a lot of Belizeans , theres no stoping to what goes on in there ,rose garden ,the streets whats the difference … wake up Belize .
Let’s build a better, cleaner brothel!!!
Legalize it., Big money. Put thousands of unemployed girls to work.. Meidical administrative finance. Pum pum da big business. A HAPPIER NATION, WIFE HAPPY, HUSBAND HAPPY. EVERYBODY HAPPY. bELLY FULL. SCHOOL UNIFOIRM BOOKS, THE RENUE FROM PUM PUM IS GOD SENT, A GOLD MIMNE $50 an hour 24/7. THE GOVERMENT SHOULD B FUNDING THIS INVESMNENT or TAX FREE ENTERPPRISE. I’M NO GYNECOLOGIST BUT I WILL TAKE A LOOK, …….. IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF GOD TO MAN, LUCKY IF YOU MARRIED TO A GOOD ONE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT, THATS WHY MAN STOP BY THE GARDEN ON THE WAY HOME.TO GET OFF AND RELAXED BEFORE THEY GO HOME TO FACE THE OLD LADY AND THE BRATS.
what??????????????this sucks mein