An elderly man almost burned himself and nearly burned down his home this weekend in Belize City. Today we spoke with a neighbor who says that it was an explosion that alerted other residents to move quickly and assist the senior citizen in getting out. Jomarie Lanza has this story.
On Sunday Afternoon, Neighbors in the Rio Bravo Crescent area off Faber's Road were startled by the sound of a small gas tank exploding. 76 year old Kenneth Flores, who is reported to have dementia, resided in this zinc structure under the care and supervision of his family, but apparently they were not at home when he lit the stove and forgot it - leading to a fiery explosion.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"Information is that he was lighting a stove when there was an explosion causing his injuries fire personnel responded, he was taken for treatment and is at the KHM at this time."
But thanks to the quick response of neighbors and the Fire services, they managed to control the spread of the fire before it could cause further damages.
Ms Kirkwood, Neighbor of fire victim
"I was inside the kitchen cooking and after a while I heard a big bomb so I thought it was my neighbor over there because he was fixing his vehicle I thought it dropped or something I didn't pay it much mind and about 5 minutes after I heard the neighbor his wife."
"But when I look I saw neighbors started to run and people started to gather up and so I lowered the stove, I came out and then when I realized it was fire over there and people were trying to out it with the hose."
"When the truck came they had to deal with it because it started to get out of control because of the gas tank so they came and out it, it didn't take that long because it was that type of material you know it would blaze more."
Kirkwood says that Flores was not severely injured and was also responsive when they removed him from the house.
Ms Kirkwood, Neighbor of fire victim
"Nobody only him he got scorched all over, he didn't burn, burn per say but you know he got scorched you could see he was affected and when I came to consciousness I said okay let me see so I took a bench and I took him inside and I asked if he would like to stay on the veranda or you would like to stay outside in the shade and he said to put the little bench right there and have him sit-down. And the ambulance then came and took him to the hospital. He was conscious enough to respond to you; he didn't knock out."
