Tonight, approximately 20 Belize City residents are homeless after 2 buildings were completely destroyed in a major fire this morning.
Reports are that the fire started at around 9:40 a.m., and investigators believe that it started at Klara's Kitchen. It then spread to a nearby home, which also completely burnt down. The Firefighters were able to stop the fire from completely destroying the third home which was nearby.
But, the fire victims are distressed and angry with Fire Department, which they insist were unprepared. Our news team was on the scene shortly after the fire broke out, and Daniel Ortiz reports:
When we arrived on Albert Street West, we found these 2 separate, 2-story homes ablaze and in the free-burn stage.
Firefighters were franticly trying to solve logistical issues with their water delivery systems, just so that they could begin their firefighting efforts.
Residents say that more than an hour had passed before the officials even began to discharge water to put the flames.
You can clearly see that this hose has a puncture, and some of the water pressure was leaking from that hole.
In the background, residents and bystanders jeered and hurled insults at the firemen. From their perspective, the emergency response to this fire was frighteningly poor, and that's why this second family home was not saved. The victims are insistent that if the firefighters had arrived adequately equipped, their house would not have burnt to the ground.
Marcia Usher - Fire Victim
"I don't know if they know what they are doing. Do you know why? [It's] because the fire already started at the white house, the white house was already [Expletive] destroyed. Try to at least spray the side of my house with water so that it doesn't catch [on fire], you know? Come on. Look at how long, and now, the house look - they waited for the house to burn. Come on. Look at how long we are out here. I told them that we are calling the fire pump. Then, they don't even have water. You want to see the hose that they are spraying water with. You have to do better than this. This isn't working."
The residents of the home to the left say that it appeared the blaze started in their neighbors' home and not on their property.
Marcia Usher
"I said but wait, how does around here look so smokey? I went out on the Verandah, I saw smoke coming out of the white house's bedroom because I already know that wasn't the kitchen, So obviously, I knew something was wrong. So, I started to shout from my verandah, 'Miss! Miss' Then I saw a young lady in the kitchen, because I know the young lady, short dark-skinned, had on glasses - she bolted this way, must be toward the bedroom."
"I don't really know what happened, but fire is coming. So, I grabbed my kids, and I ran to the open lot by Bird's Isle for safety."
Reporter
"Did it start from the neighbor's house, you think?"
Marcia Usher
"Yes, it has to be from the neighbor's house because we saw it. Everybody saw it. So, it has to be from there, and I know that where the fire was, the kitchen wasn't there. So, something is wrong, the kitchen is at the back."
And now, Marcia and her children are among the homeless who are devastated by this sudden and unexpected blaze. They are hoping that the Government can help them recover from this disaster.
Marcia Usher
"I am supporting you so many times, so many times, so many times, so much time. And I don't go to your offices. You all know that I don't go to your offices. I still maintain my family."
"I want to see if you will help me with a little house now. I have 9 kids, 1 grandson. Let me see if you will help me because now I need the help."
