7 News Belize

Fire At Mile Four
posted (May 9, 2011)
There was a fire on Friday night on the outskirts of Belize City. It started close to 6:30 and by the time our news crew got there at after 7:00 - it was in virtual free burn.

Here's what we saw and what we found out:….

Jules Vasquez Reporting
When we got there the fire was feasting on the frame of the three bedroom wooden house. The sparks from the fire scattered like a swarm of fireflies in the cloud of smoke - while the heart of the fire glowed a violent orange. We saw the fire department releasing a powerful stream of water from their cannon but with the distance it seemed to hardly make a difference.

And while the fire hose snaked into the swamp, no matter how they adjusted the valves, the water cannon was hardly a match for the all-consume in fire.

The man who called the fire department says they came too late:

VOICE OF EYEWITNESS, MADE CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
"I was right across the street when I see the smoke and when I notice I thought it was the first house but when I check close I see that it was the other house that was about 6:20 pm. I call the fire department but they didn't respond, so I call the police about 2 times and they arrive about 6:25 pm. The fire engine came but didn't have any water, that was now 7:25 pm. but nothing has happen yet with the fire engine."

The property at 1390 Caribbean Shores, four and a half miles northern highway is a total loss for the homeowner who is convinced that it is arson:

Reporter
"You believe this a case of arson?"

Patricia McKoy Kelly
"Yes. I think it was in last week we had a guard who was staying here who was looking after the place and he told us that while he was in his bed he smell smoke and he came downstairs, when he came down he saw that one of the board doors was on fire and he smelt kerosene and he saw someone leaving the property but he couldn't deal with the person at the same time while putting out the fire. Whosoever was trying to do this last week came back to do it today and they succeeded. We had two pit bulls; one on the front verandah and one on the back. I guess they got burnt up too because they couldn't get out."

For the owners, it is the loss of a property and the labor of building a home:

Patricia McKoy Kelly
"My brother invested over $100,000.00 in this house, he had intended to open a bar downstairs and a part from his investment the house was fully furnished with 3 bedrooms worth of my stuff. So it's a great loss for us, both him and I. this took years to get this house together."

Officials from The Fire Department did not make themselves available for comment….

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