The families living at the corner of Sibun and Nargusta Streets were enjoying the 10th holiday, never expecting to lose everything they owned in the blink of an eye. But that's exactly what happened after a blaze raged out of control, taking with it the four apartments in the yard. It started in one of the houses, and the reports say that tenant had issues with another woman over a boyfriend.
And while reports also suggest that there had been some physical violence between the women, no one expected retaliation in the form of a fire that left the six other families homeless and endangered the lives of 12 other people. Today, Courtney Menzies spoke with some of the victims and has this story.
Seven families have been left homeless with just the clothes on their backs after a raging fire destroyed four apartments sitting in one yard. The fire department is saying it might be arson, and that the fire was set inside the home of one of the tenants. The suspects patiently waited until she left before lighting it, but they probably didn't expect it to spread so quickly, leaving 7 adults and 6 children to start over from scratch.
Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, NFS
"We narrowed it down based on observation, investigation, and information received that the fire started from one of the tenants room, 23-year-old Miss Shanice Reyes. The fire then spread and quickly consumed the rest of the establishment."
"What we can tell you, we spoke to the occupant, Ms Reyes, in person. We spoke to other eyewitness who collaborate the very same story. Ms Reyes wasn't at home, she had left, secured her apartment, with a locking mechanism however when the fire was observed, it was also observed that her door was open, presumably it was forced open and shortly after, the fire started. We were fortunate enough to speak with Ms Reyes who said that she believed the fire could have been maliciously set by a group of young ladies which she had a prior altercation with, hence the reason I can safely say that this case will become a criminal matter provided the landlord so chooses to press charges against these individuals then it becomes a matter for the police to deal with."
"I believe It's possible that their intent was not to create such a catastrophic chain of events. Unfortunately these buildings that once sat in this yard, in local terms, they are very ripe, it only took that one sparks to ignite that particular room and the chain event is the result of what happened from last night's action."
But while the police are investigating this fire, they haven't ruled it as arson just yet.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo, Head, CIB Belize City
"Police spoke to one of the tenants who is alleging certain things, and that's why I told you police is looking for another female that can possibly help us in this investigation."
So now the seven families living in the apartments have to rebuild their lives from scratch, since none of them were able to save anything. One tenant who has been living there for 30 years bravely tried to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful.
Carlos Martinez, Fire Victim
"I was in the place up there and suddenly the satellite from my TV give certain [problems] and I say make I come outside make I see what is going on and things like that and when I saw big flame then I tell my wife, come out because the fire is there, my wife had to come out naked, in just panty."
"And then I try out it over there, they had a thing for me to out the fire, a lot of water, but I couldn't out it by myself because I didn't have any help a lot of people was there but I didn't get any help. I lose everything, everything, I don't have anything, not even to eat."
Frances Santos, Fire Victim
"He was trying to get water to try and throw it on the fire, but it didn't work, it just get worse. So I told him call 911 but then the fireman took long. And then it start burn up and a whole crowd of people was here but nobody help everybody just stand up and watch."
Another woman who has two young daughters said it's going to be hard to start over, especially since she has another baby on the way.
Marva Cayetano, Fire Victim
"At the time a neighbor came and tell me I need to get me and my kids out because the whole side of the building is on fire. By the time I come by the gate, the whole building like the gas tank start burst and stuff so we had to run all the way to the gas station so I just hold my babies and make them get their shoes and we run."
Courtney Menzies:
"You guys didn't have time to grab anything.?"
Marva Cayetano, Fire Victim
"No ma'am, and then a young lady was here who have a baby, everything for her burnt up. Everybody right now don't have any way to stay from the landlord doesn't have, everybody was renting."
"Right now I have my baby that's going to school, I have a two-year-old and I have a baby on the way. I lose everything, I lose my stove, my gas tank, everything that I worked hard to get. I don't have anything right now. I am getting clothes and assistance from people but if anybody would want to assist us it would be real nice."
"I just want make they know that they left me and my kids without somewhere to stay, even though it wasn't much but it was somewhere we could stay and had all our stuff in there, I hav a baby on the way, they really… I don't even want to cry but they really hurt my family."
The tenant who was reportedly the target, Shanice Reyes, have two children who were living with her - a one month old and a one year old and she is also asking for assistance.
If you want to assist these families, the Cayetano family - which consists of two young girls and an unborn baby along with their parents - can be reached at 652-3455; the Martinez family which consists of a couple can be reached at 662-6703; and the Reyes family with two infant children can be reached at 623-2667.
