Earlier we told you about two fires which investigators believe were intentionally set in Belize City last night. Well there was a mid-morning fire today which devoured two houses in the Jane Usher Boulevard Area. The fire fighters say they got the call at 11:20 and responded to the scene on Curl Thompson Street within four minutes but residents strongly disagree with that timeline. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These smoldering ashes are what's left of the house Martin Rodriquez and his wife called home for the last 4 years. His home was one of two houses destroyed in a blaze this morning in the Jane Usher Boulevard area.
The fire started around 11 am and this amateur video shows it freely burning and raging, devouring one building and spreading to another. And while the fire fighters did arrive - they seemed at first almost helpless in their attempt to fight the blaze. That has earned the ire of those in the neighborhood who say that the firemen lost the fight Georgina Moreiera lives across the street.
Georgina Moreiera, Area Resident
"The firemen took long to come. The fire people took too long. The people called and called and they didn't come and the next house caught fire."
But the arrival of the fire fighters was more urgent for Teresita Cano. She lives right next to the homes which here burnt down. Her house was in clear and present danger. The fire did spread to her yard - scorching this small hut.
Teresita Cano, Area Resident
"I am afraid because the fire started at the little house. I called the fire engine when I saw the fire at the little house and the fire engine didn't come. I called about two or three times. When I went to the back of my yard I saw the big house is starting to catch on fire and then I called the fire engine again and when the houses were already on fire, that's when the fire engine came."
But Rodriquez has no room for anger. He was at work when he got the news about the fire. He and his wife lost everything.
Martin Rodriquez, Fire Victim
"I got the call at work and I came here and I found it like this, under fire. The big one is my property. We lived there for the past four years."
Keith Swift,
You lost everything?
Martin Rodriquez,
"Everything except what I have on and my vehicle which I had at work."
A Fire Department official told us this evening that two trucks responded within 4 minutes. He noted that there is no water supply in the area and that affected operations. A cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
