7 News Belize

Fire: Homeowner Claims Arson, Fire Dept. Says Not So
posted (October 25, 2017)
This morning around 11:30 a fire devoured a 24 by 30 bungalow house on Tigris Street in Belize City.

When the fire started, five people including two minors were inside, but thankfully they all escaped unharmed. The residents of the house were renting it from Darrel Young who is the owner. Young strongly believes that the fire is the product of arson, but after investigating, the fire department has concluded otherwise. We spoke to both Young and the Assistant Fire Chief:...

Voice of: Darrel Williams, Owner of House
"As far as I know I think its arson."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"But why?"

Voice of: Darrel Williams, Owner of House
"The fire man told me that the house catch from a mattress and beside that we don't have any electrical problem, because I had wired the whole house over. So the only thing I can look at is arson. I don't this it was the person living in the house did that."

Berisford Matura, Belize Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief
"The occupier of the house who was at home at the time was Mr. Hugh Espat. His common-law wife Maryvet Brigall, his mother in law Estella Punce, and two minors a 5-year-old and a four-year-old."

"We have now narrowed down the origin of the fire to be in one of the bedrooms. Apparently when the fire started the two minors were in the bedroom. We are still sifting through the remains to see what could have caused this fire."

"I have communicated with the officers and they see no sign of an incendiary fire."

"We did not get the value of the house. Apparently, when the fire started like I said they were home so they managed to take out some of their household items."

The family that was living in the house has not commented yet and Williams has not been able to reach them. The department continues to investigate.

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