Sunday Night Fire Destroys Freetown Home

Just before midnight on Sunday, an old two-story wooden house on Freetown Road was engulfed in flames. The owner had deemed it unsafe to live in months ago and moved out but allowed someone to stay on the first floor despite the lack of electricity. Tonight, the fire department is investigating to find out what caused the blaze. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A wooden structure on Freetown Road went up in flames on Sunday night. This morning, we met the owner of the property at the location assessing the damage.

 

Maurice Francis, Fire Victim

“So far, I don’t know what happened. I was playing football at Berger Field yesterday evening. Then I went to my little spot where I hang out. Then early this morning I get a video, and it was blazing fire. I come down now and it was blazing fire.”

 

 

 

Francis explained that he grew up in the home and had to move out after the house almost fell during a hurricane.

 

Maurice Francis

“I was not living inside but I had someone staying here that watched the place for us. But I haven’t seen her or speak to her yet. So I don’t know what really went down. To me it is a great loss, because where I am at I am punishing and I was planning to come and get this place together right away and this is what happened. I was planning to just take a little bit and put it on the side so that I could stay in there. But now it is just too late.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And with everything destroyed you cant salvage any of it.”

 

Maurice Francis

“Can’t salvage no part of it.”

 

 

 

Fire personnel responded swiftly on Sunday night, but their efforts proved futile as the old wooden house was fuel to the fire. This afternoon fire personnel were back on the scene to conduct further investigation.

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Commander, Belize District

“We didn’t have electricity at the time. We had people living downstairs. The upstairs, at this time it is unknown if it was occupied.”

 

 

 

Reporter

“Have you managed to establish the cause of the fire as yet?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“At this time, we have a slight idea, but it is still under investigation to determine the fire. Compared to fire burner analysis it seemed to have started from the center of the home. The guys they did a really good job keeping it contained. As you can see to the rear, there is an abandoned structure. The guys are training twice a week, so they are really keeping up their training so this is the outcome we will have from here on.”

 

Without electricity on the property, those who occupied the home would have utilized candles.

 

Maurice Francis

“But I am not saying it is their malfunction. I am not pointing fingers on anybody. The house is a sore eye anyways. I am personally nuh like it, afraid of it, I was going to come back and take it down. I would ask the whole of Belize to support Mr. Magic Francis. They have my phone number, six, two, seven, five, three, zero, eight. Just call me and help out the superstar for Belize. I devote all my playing football and I don’t get nothing. I don’t beg nobody for nothing and this time I feel like I have to ask, because the bible say ask and it shall be given unto you.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.