A Belize City woman is homeless after fire destroyed her home on Arlington Drive in Belize City. Sometime around 8:45 on Saturday night, fire personnel were called out to a wooden house at 7474 Arlington Drive where they found the structure engulfed in flames. Today the owner and occupant of the house 27-year-old Catherine Blease told us that she believes here house was intentionally set on fire. Authorities however have a different take. Alfonso Noble got both sides of the story.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This morning 27-year-old Catherine Blease found a bucket to sit down on inside what is left of her home.
On Saturday night Blease says that a neighbor called her to give her the news that her home was burning.
Catherine Blease,
“My neighbor from across the street came and told me that my house was on fire and when I came to check it they told me that a young man burnt down my house.”
Fire authorities say that while Blease may be right in having pinpointed the spot where the fire originated inside her bedroom, they say the possibility that someone set the house on fire is unlikely.
Michael Middleton, Fire Department
“We did an investigation and there was no evidence to suggest that somebody had actually light that fire intentionally.”
Alfonso Noble,
How the fire started?
Michael Middleton,
“Actually no but we know it started in one of the rear back rooms.”
Alfonso Noble,
Was it electrical have you eliminated the possibility of it being an electrical fire?
Michael Middleton,
“Definitely electrical has been ruled out. Somehow we feel it is accidental of some sort.”
But no matter how the house burnt down the only thing that this young woman can think of is to start over again and the only way she can do that is to appeal to the public.
Catherine Blease,
“Right now to tell you the truth, I haven’t slept yet. From Saturday night I noh sleep yet. I sit down on Boulevard on a pallet underneath a Hammonds tree and it is there I sit down. I don’t have anywhere to go. I really want them to help me in something. I would want them to something for me because I don’t have anything, nothing I have. I don’t know who I could go to. I don’t know who. At this moment I am not working for nearly a month now.”
Alfonso Noble,
Where do you usually work?
Catherine Blease,
“BML. I don’t have a job at this moment. I don’t know what to do right now. I don’t even know where to go. I am just confused confused confused. This is all I had. I build this on my own and they just came and took it away from me. They are so cold to me. They are cold to just destroy the only thing I have. One suit of clothes I walked out with, one suit of clothes, and that is all I have. I don’t have anything. I would want somebody to please come help me. I need help. I need a help. I don’t have anything. Look at all of my things, everything I had is gone. I don’t even have a bed. From my house burnt down I haven’t eaten anything and I haven’t slept. I just stay out there and sit down. Mr. Turner gave me two pills for me to try and sleep and I can’t even sleep because I don’t have anywhere to go sleep. I don’t have anyone I can depend on.”
It’s quite the situation that Blease finds herself in: out of a home and out of options.
Anyone who can assist Blease can get in touch with her friends at telephone numbers 620-0698 or 227-3971.
