7 News Belize

Armin Arana's Home Torched
posted (September 11, 2012)
Tonight a popular radio personality and his mother are homeless after their concrete bungalow house was set on fire. The incident happened early Saturday morning a little after 4am. At the time both Armin Arana and his Mother Juliana Arana were in Barranco attending a family member's funeral.

Neighbors who alerted the fire department who quickly responded to the house that was engulfed in flames. Today 7news spoke with Fire Operations Manager Ben Matura - who confirmed to us that it was indeed arson and the fire started from Armin Arana's bedroom.

Ben Matura, Operations Officer - Fire Department
"The fire department got a call approximately 4:30 am on the 8th September at the corner of Mahogany and Jasmine Streets. Upon arrival flames were coming out oif the back bedroom. We got into operation and extinguished the fire. Both bedrooms received fire damage and the rest of the house got smoke damage and a few scorched area."

Juliana Arana, Home Owner
"I was in Barranco for a relative funeral. As a matter of fact I was in bed sleeping when they woke me to the bad news. It's not a very good felling. I cried, it's a very bad feeling because you are not here to help yourself. Nobody was at home. Everybody was in Barranco. They are suggesting that it's from Armin's room and it spread out to my room."

Monica Bodden
"So the fire started in Armin's bedroom?"

Juliana Arana, Home Owner
"Yes in my son's bedroom."

Monica Bodden
"The fire started from which area of the house?"

Ben Matura
"From the backdoor of one of the bedrooms."

Monica Bodden
"At this time is the fire department able to say if this was arson?"

Ben Matura
"We can say yes that it was some form of malicious act in the sense that the lock from the backdoor was broken off and we got a hint of some sort of accelerant in area where it shouldn't be, for example, who would store accelerant in their bedroom, we are leaning towards that and after investigating all the fire patterns and everything we know that it's from that area that it started - somewhere it that room by means of some sort of accelerant."

Juliana Arana, Home Owner
"I loss most of clothes, documents and belongings are all gone."

Monica Bodden
"Mrs. Arana, how long have you live at this house?"

Juliana Arana, Home Owner
"Over 20 plus years I've been living here."

Monica Bodden
"Sitting here talking to me and seeing the state that your house is in. Can you even explain that feeling?"

Juliana Arana, Home Owner
"I just can't describe it, it's not a very good feeling. When I came back to look at it I was shock, but I have faith in God. I trust in him and if someone did it, well I place them in the hands of the good Lord - I trust him. I would want anybody else to go through this. It's not a very good feeling."

So far police are investigating incident and no one is detained at this time. On Saturday there will be a fundraising barbq sale at the Arana's residence corner Mahogany and Jasmine streets. Also if you would like to assist the Arana Family you can contact them at telephone numbers 6-5-3-3-0-4-0 or 6-0-5-3-8-6-5.

And there was another fire over the weekend - this time on Saturday night. It happened around 9:30 through Taylors Alley. According to fire officials it was a candle that set the abandoned wooden house on fire. Just to note, only 2 months ago another abandoned building adjacent to this one was burnt down.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize