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Fire On Aloe Vera; Arson or A Product of Faulty Wiring Due to Electricity Theft?
posted (May 7, 2015)
Tonight, a family of 5 is homeless after their house on Aloe Vera Street Extension burnt down before midday.

But that terrible misfortune is just the beginning of the story. It's complicated because the homeowners suspect that one of their neighbors burnt their home down. Those neighbors say that the fire victims were stealing electricity - and that's what caused the blaze.

So, what do the authorities think? We'll our news team tried to get some answers today. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Orin Smith - Station Officer, National Fire Services
"At approximately 11:50 am the National Fire Services received and had responded to a call of a structural fire at a number 6 Aloe Vera Street Extension Belize City address. On arrival on scene, a plycem structure was seen engulfed in flames. Following a brief size up, firefighting commenced, the fire was later brought under control and extinguished."

Daniel Ortiz reporting
But, the house was beyond saving at that time, and the fire destroyed it almost completely. Home Owner Caroline Hamilton was convinced that one of neighbors, with which she had a long standing dispute, had burnt her house down.

She was so angry that she became aggressive with one of the young men who says threatened her with arson in the past.

She got so angry and confrontational that she picked up a piece of a cement brick and threw it at the young man's head. Fortunately, he ducked, and the projectile missed his temple area but only by a few inches.

He allowed her to rant and rave at him and accuse him of arson. Those around say that Hamilton is the architect of her own misfortune.

They alleged that she was stealing electricity and faulty wire caused the fire.

She described her suspicions:

Caroline Hamilton - Fire Victim
"He will spend tonight but he won't spend tomorrow night in his home because I will burn it down because she is informer for the committee thing up the street. Because I am the Marshall for back here and I saw when they stole the boat, the engine and the things and carried it in the small house to hide it. And because I went and talked about what I saw them doing, they burned down my home. I've been living here over twelve years now."

Reporter
"And how long have you been having problem with the neighbors?"

Caroline Hamilton - Fire Victim
"From the time I came to live back here. And every time they threatened me that they will burn down my house."

Reporter
"Ma'am, they were alleging that you were stealing electricity and that's what caused the fire."

Caroline Hamilton - Fire Victim
"Ma'am I don't know about stealing electricity because I know with my heart and soul that I wasn't stealing any light. If anything, it's them who set the wire in my house and pretend. I slept many days in darkness."

Reporter
"The owner of the house is alleging arson as far as your investigation and as far as observation, are you considering that or are evidence leading to that?"

Orin Smith - Station Officer, National Fire Services
"I won't say at this time. As I've said, the investigation is still young and is still ongoing."

Investigators will determine the real cause, but right now that doesn't matter. She and her family of 4 are homeless tonight.

Caroline Hamilton - Fire Victim
"I lost everything. Everything that matters to me. My children's clothing, my children's school bag, everything that matters to me. Even their television, even their fridge, everything is lost."

Reporter
"Do you have any idea of anywhere to go?"

Caroline Hamilton - Fire Victim
"Only my parents. Only my parents I have to go to. I don't have anyone at my side. My maintenance money comes from through family court from my children's father. I don't have anywhere to sleep with them, or anywhere to go with them. This was everything to me, everything that I ever owned I lost."

Hamilton lived in the house for 12 years, with her boyfriend, her 12 year-old daughter, and her sons, ages 9 and 15. She is asking for help to try to recover from this fire, and anyone who would want to assist can contact her at phone number 650 - 9269.

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