Fire leaves Belmopan family destitute

As fires go, it was hardly a major blaze … even by the modest standards of the nation’s capital. But for one Belmopan family, the flames that burned down their modest home last night destroyed more than wood and thatch.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Seventy-three year old Francisca Salam, still in a daze, sifts through burnt zinc and wood vainly trying to recover the bits and pieces of her life from a devastating fire last night totally destroyed her home of more than a decade at number ten Amapola Street in the Las Flores Area of Belmopan.

Around eleven on Monday night forty year old Josefa Chun, her twelve year old daughter, elderly mother, and two nephews were sleeping inside the house when Chun says she was suddenly awakened by the sound of something burning. Chun says she barely had time to save their lives.

Josefa Chun, Fire Victim
“I get frightened and then when I hurry get and try open the door, I could not open it. So I hurry holler for one of my nephews to come and help me. Meanwhile when I opened the door, the fire done di catch the next one which part I deh in.”

Once outside, Chun says she tried to extinguish the flames with two buckets of water but the fire had already gotten out of control as the wooden thatch-roofed structure quickly burned to the ground.

Josefa Chun
“I cannot save anything, because the fire done catch everything and I can’t go in again.”

The family, who has been living at the residence since 1996, must now start all over again. Chun says lost in the blaze were all of their household appliances, furniture, clothes, food, and one thousand dollars that they had saved. The family dog was also burned to death.

This morning fire officials returned to the scene where they conducted preliminary investigations and reported their findings to the family. But Cirilio Chun Sr. says they are left with more questions than answers.

Cirilio Chun, Sr., Brother, Josefa Chun
“It started at the corner of the kitchen, and that’s where mostly the heat is on and all the pots have been burned completely, well melt down. That is where they more or less he suggested that the fire started and it blazed towards the bigger part of the building and to all the other rooms.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Was anything left on?”

Cirilio Chun
“There was nothing, nothing at all, no nothing left on in the evening after dinner time. They turned off all lights and there was one extension, and to my understanding that was disconnected, and absolutely nothing was left on.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Now I understand that just before the fire started neighbours remembered hearing dogs barking. Do the family suspect arson?”

Cirilio Chun
“Well to my intention or understanding, I do not think so.”

Chun, who does not live with the family, is providing shelter for his mother at his home, while his sister and other family members are staying with neighbours. Today, Josefa and Cirilio appealed for the public’s assistance.

Cirilio Chun
“If anybody will assist my mom and sister with the house of course, I know that things are very hard at the moment, but right now for us as well. We do not have much money and we will really appreciate whatever kind of donation that can be done or food or maybe a little bit of stipend of money just to start something.”

The family says they put their losses at thirteen thousand seven hundred dollars. If you would like to assist the Chun family they can be reached at cell number 604-9817.

According to Chun, they will be approaching the Belmopan City Council and the Human Development Department for emergency aid.