Fire guts bar/apartment building

Today Belize City was once again the venue of a devastating fire. M.J.’s on West Collet Canal was extensively damaged by the flames, smoke, and water. The building contained a bar but also a large number of apartments. Had the fire started in the middle of the night, the casualties could have been enormous. Fortunately, today there were no injuries.

Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
“The fire is in the ceiling of the building, so we have to be breaking up spots to get actually to the fire. The fire is virtually under control, it’s not going anywhere else from where it is at, but the problem right now, we have to go in there, our people have to go in there with breathing apparatus because of the amount of smoke, the partition in the ceiling … it’s tedious work and will take some time before we get everything really, really out.”

Charles Galvez, Owner of Business
“I noh know how it really start, but I know I get damaged bad. The bar downstairs get water damage definitely.”

Stephen Ferguson, News Five
“You have apartments to the back.”

Charles Galvez
“We have rooms yes.”

Stephen Ferguson, News Five
“You noh have no idea where the fire started?”

Charles Galvez
“They haven’t told me and I wasn’t here, so I can’t say.”

Officials have yet to arrive at a conclusion as to the cause of the fire. According to Galvez, the building was insured.