Fire leaves two families homeless

Two families are homeless following a fire last night on the north side of Belize City. As bad as it was, the damage could have been far worse.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
There was nothing fire fighters could have done to save the two storey wooden building at number one Usher Street in the Pickstock Division. According to Andrew Fuller and Chabela Lopez who resided in the lower flat with their two young children the blaze spread so quickly that they only had time to save their lives.

Andrew Fuller, Fire Victim
“Because we noh have enough water yah, we neva even had the chance fu try slow it down. And this house mek outta mostly old, I mean real old pine wood, so when it start burn, the lee bit ah water we had couldn’t…”

The family members say they were all home at the time about to retire to bed when they smelled something burning but they had no idea that their lives were in danger until a neighbour shouted that the upper flat was on fire.

Chabela Lopez, Fire victim
“When I peeped through the window and I looked out I said ‘Andrew maybe da the air’, so he seh ‘Baby noh worry yet cause I the smoke’. He mi the smoke cigarette, so I seh I noh wah worry; and da when wa neighbour call and the holla out, he run through the door. By the time he run back, ih seh ‘Baby, tek out the babies them’, and when I look through the bathroom, the place was done on fire already.”

Andrew Fuller
“We fraid and thing and you know— I mean, we had to save we kids them first, that da first thing; then we start think bout the lee material things they weh we had, the lee old clothes, you know.”

Although neighbours complained that the fire service took too long to respond to the scene, the victims agree that it could have been much worse as the blaze was prevented from spreading to other wooden homes in one of the most congested areas of Belize City.

Andrew Fuller
“They attack from three ways, so I think they do wah good job, wa real good job. I mean, with the intense weh the fire mih done deh already, yo know…”

Jacqueline Godwin
“And how long have you both been living here?”

Chabela Lopez
“Five years, me I’ve been living here five years, but he is from he growing up.”

Andrew Fuller
“Thirthy years, yea.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“So you planning on moving out of the neighbourhood all together, or what you’re planning to do?”

Andrew Fuller
“I don’t know, yo know; I noh have no plans. I noh have no plans, it’s just whatever happens, the best thing weh could happen.”

One resident whose house could not escape receiving water damage is Desiree Belisle who lives just to the back of burned out building.

Desiree Belisle, Fire victim
“Our furnitures them get wet and mih bathroom, due to weh they mi the try help—cause mi neighbours help and so—mi bathroom flooring drop in and yoh know, mi sewerage damage up and thing.”

Fire investigators say their investigations reveal that the building had no electricity and that they believe the fire may have been started by a candle left lit and unattended upstairs in a front bedroom. The building was owned by Andrew Fuller’s granduncle who presently resides in the United Sates. Unfortunately it was not insured. In the meantime the fire victims have been staying with relatives and have been receiving some assistance from neighbours and concerned individuals.

We understand that a total of nine persons have been left homeless. At the time we visited the scene a family member who lived upstairs declined an interview but said that at the time of the incident no one was home and there was no candle left burning. If you would like to assist Andrew Fuller and Chabela Lopez they can be reached at 203 – 5010.