And here in Belize City, there was an early morning fire yesterday on Albert Street near the swing bridge.
A popular store caught on fire, and firemen had to approach this blaze very carefully. Jaleeza Roberts reports:
At approximately 12:44 a.m. on Sunday morning, huge clouds of smoke started wafting across the heart of Downtown Belize City. Femina Store has sat on the ground floor corner of the Abdo building for over 30 years. The appliance store was on fire, but from the inside, with the shutters closed.
Because the fire was churning inside, waiting to feed on oxygen, Fire Department personnel had to use different strategies to get to it. They initially cut a small hole in the shutter because a rush of oxygen would have created a backdraft, causing the fire to explode. From that small hole, they were able to bring the fire under control.
Despite this deft work, the Fire Department had no comment today.
Police gave us the bare facts.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What we have learned so far in the course of the investigation is that the owner of Femina Store reported that he left his property, and he was only alerted that a fire occurred, and he visited and made the observation. He stated that the building is one that he rents. However, the contents are his, and they were insured."
Today there was charred debris outside, and inside, surely, a tower of destroyed inventory. The store immediately beside it was spared, but their appliances did receive smoke damage.
But, what caused a fire inside a shuttered store in this long-standing building?
Jaleeza Roberts:
"Have you all been able to determine if someone set it on fire?"
ASP Stacy Smith:
"The department is currently awaiting the report from the National Fire Service as to whether the fire was as a result of electrical, you know, where it's gone bad, or if it was deliberately set."
Jaleeza Roberts, 7News
So far, no statement has been issued by the Fire Department.
