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Orin Smith, Station Officer for the National Fire Service
"The National Fire Service received a call from the police of a structural fire on Pickstock Street Belize city. Two units was dispatched to the area and when they arrived on scene a small wooden frame and ply-board siding structure measuring approximately 10 by 10 on the occupied side. There is an extension to the building that is unenclosed which is 11 by 10, we found that structure fully engulfed in flames. The fire was later brought under control and extinguished."

"Preliminary instigation reveals that the fire originated from the North exterior of the structure and the fire is classified as incendiary."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So it started outside, someone lit the house on fire?"

Orin Smith
"Yes that is what it seems, the structure had no electrical current. We found no stove within the structure and no evidence of any use of candles as such."

Gary Gill, Fire Victim
"When I opened up my eyes I saw the whole place on fire and when I saw the whole place on fire I said to myself "Oh my God, Oh my God they are burning down my house, they are burning down my house" that is what I told myself and that is when I stood in the fire. Miss I am telling you the honest truth I stood up in that fire and like somebody just lead me to that window and when I got to the window I pulled it open but the window as hot, everything was hot but before I get to the window I try reach to the door but when I reached to the door the door was locked like thy locked me in that place like truly they wanted to kill me."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So if you didn't go out through that window you would have been burnt alive?"

Gary Gill
"Yes I didn't go out through that window I would have been burnt because the heat was already in my head and back and the smoke was choking me so when I get to window I leaned over and like something stop me and when something stop me, I decided to pull myself and I just feel like a spirit or somebody just lift me up and throw me out."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"And you said the door was locked from outside, you usually lock it from inside right?"

Gary Gill
"No I do not usually lock the door from inside, I leave the door open at all times because everyone know that sometimes I lock it with pad lock, I will not lock it with nail when we get outside everyone notice that nail was on it."

"I no save nothing, nothing, everything burned up - phone, all my documents all my clothes."

"And the carnival stuff is separated because what we wanted to do, we wanted to surprise everybody to go in LOVEFM Christmas parade but we didn't want to tell anybody we wanted to surprise."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So the stuff you had there was for that parade?"

Gary Gill
"All the stuff we had for carnival which was for the LOVE FM parade got burned, everything actually get burn."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Do you have any idea who would want to set your house on fire?"

Gary Gill
"Well literally I get a text before that somebody from the states text me and say "I will make sure I pay to let your house burn.""

As you heard, Gill claims he got a threatening text from someone in the US. He says he has reported it to police. Gill believes that person paid someone here in Belize to burn his house down. Gill estimates the he lost about $20,000 worth of belongings including the carnival supplies and costumes. Gill says he has no job and needs as much help as he can get. If you would like to help you can call 622 5784. As you remember, Gill and his Pickstock group were excluded from this year's carnival by a judge's decision.