There was a fire last night in the Queen's Square area of Belize City, and, tonight, 14 people are homeless because of it. Now, with that many people left out of door, you might think that this was some big two-storey house - but it was just a decades-old trailer home. Here's what happened:...
Shirley Flowers, Fire Victim
"Well I feel the heat. I felt like I was already burn - I felt like I wanted to die."
Jules Vasquez reporting
It's very fortunate that no one did die - 14 people, 8 of them children were cramped inside this two bedroom trailer home last night at 9:30:
Shirley Flowers, Fire Victim
"By the time we reach out, the fire was already bolted out on the side and coming our way. But I hollered and told the kids to please hurry come out because its danger and we will get hurt. My stepdaughter ran back for my 5 year old baby. She managed to get her and so we came out."
That's when the Fire Department swooped in and quickly brought the blaze under control saving two other nearby wooden structures.
The family tells us the fire was started by a candle which set this mattress on fire. And while it may not look so bad outside, once inside, it's clear to see that it's a complete write-off - not an inch was spared. And walking through, we wondered how 14 people even lived in here:
Shirley Flowers, Fire Victim
"This a two bedroom house and for us to have shelter on our head, we turned the bathroom into a room and put the bathroom outside."
Today, children sat around - they couldn't go to school, their uniforms, books and school bags were destroyed.
Now, this trailer home which the family has used for 21 years is irreparable, and the family needs a new house:
Shirley Flowers, Fire Victim
"Like what I said we need a whole house. We need assistance. We have kids in school."
Right now, with their few belongings scattered din the yard, they are getting by on the kindness of neighbors:
Shirley Flowers, Fire Victim
"All of us lives right here. But remember we are scattered about and thank God for the neighbors, because they help us. They look out for us."
Anyone wanting to help the family can call 631-3985 or 635-0677.
Email
Print