Brush fires threaten urban areas as well as rural
Anyone driving from Belize City to Belmopan can’t help but notice the large areas of burnt and burning countryside. These seasonal fires are not unusual in that pine ridge terrain and are part of a natural pattern of regeneration. But wildfires are not confined to rural areas and, as I discovered today, are becoming increasingly frequent in populated areas.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The fire reportedly started after this youngman, now detained by police apparently went into the Lake Independence area to clear a piece of government land to build his home. But things quickly got out of control as the blaze grew and threatened nearby houses.
Smoke quickly surrounded this two bedroom wooden house as fire-fighters focused on keeping the flames from reaching it. The building’s owner was not home at the time.
According to National Fire Service Operations Manager Michael Middleton, the incident is just one of many they have been tackling since the start of the dry season.
Michael Middleton, Operations Mgr., National Fire Service
“Well around this time of the year we have several calls for the day, everyday. … For example yesterday we had three calls at the same time for three different locations. One was on Coney Drive, one was in Bella Vista, and the other one was in Ladyville.”
According to Middleton, most cases are as a result of careless human behaviour. Middleton says although they have been advising people to be responsible, especially during this time of the year, the calls keep coming in.
Today, the report arrived sometime after ten this morning and it took fire fighters about an hour to put the fire out.
Michael Middleton
“People throw cigarettes out of vehicles, maybe take a beer pint and throw it out on the highway, the radiation from the sun that would start a fire, or people tend to start to clear their land, bundle up the debris, and let the fire get out of control.”
The fire fighters did mange to keep the blaze from engulfing an entire neighbourhood, but admit it was a very close call. Middleton says whenever clearing land, you should always burn in very small piles and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby if the blaze happens to get out of control. He also gave this advice to people living especially in bushy areas.
Michael Middleton
“The main advice we try to advise people to keep their land clean, keep it nice and low. If they live especially in the rural area, cut a fire path approximately three feet around their land, very low to the ground. Another three feet around their house and between the two fire paths keep it nice and low. Good housekeeping is what we recommend.”
As for the young man who is believe to be responsible for this morning’s incident? The police say there was little damage, but pending the outcome of their investigation, he can be charged with the Reckless Use of Fire.
