Family Picking Up The Pieces After Fire Claims Home  

Last Wednesday, a fire at the corner of Pickstock Street and Lovely Lane erupted around seven-forty-five p.m. destroying the home of twenty-eight-year-old Alicia Rancharan. Rancharan, her three children, and her partner were fortunately unharmed by the flames but are still in need of assistance. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke with the mother of three today for the full story.

 

Britney Gordon, reporting

While many people spent the long weekend relaxing with friends or family, Alicia Rancharan and her family were processing the loss of all their possessions and the roof over their heads. In just a matter of hours, the place they had called home for the past five years was consumed by a fire that erupted late Wednesday evening. Rancharan said that she was not at home at the time of the fire due to a recent death in the family and got the call while at the repass.

 

Alicia Rancharan, Fire Victim

“After they had a repass, I went by, sat down with my family, my friends. While we were sitting down, someone called my mom, stated that, hey, Alicia’s house is on fire. Someone who was at the funeral with us offered me a ride home. Upon reaching to the home, where I call home, I saw my house completely engulfed in fire. I was just panicking. I did not know what to do. I started crying.”

 

Rancharan explained that her partner had stepped out to purchase food for the family moments before the fire and that it was her seven-year-old daughter that saved the other children.

 

Alicia Rancharan

“I was my three kids and my gentleman. However, he had completed a day’s work. So he decided to step out to go and get something for them to eat that night. Just less than fifty yards away. He went to buy. he said that someone came to him and tell him to go back home. When he reached back home, he saw the fire. My kids was inside. My seven-year-old girl, my four-year-old son, and my other baby girl, who’s one year old.  My daughter stated that she peeped out and she saw the smoke show. She had no other option but to grab her brother and sister and take them outside. My son, not knowing what is happening, he decided to just go back inside to continue watching TV and she yelled at him. Hey, there’s a fire, we need to get out. She dragged him by the arm, took him downstairs and by the time my gentleman reached back from shop, they was already downstairs safe, thank God.”

 

An investigation by the Belize National Fire Service revealed that the fire started on the ground floor after a makeshift stove was tipped over by one of the building’s tenants.

 

Alicia Rancharan

“The neighbor, Mister Elodorio, better known as Dolo, he lives downstairs. He does not have any current. So he was I think making a lamp. hey stated that it tipped over. He did not yell for help until the whole bathroom was already engulfed in flames and the Monday before this incident took place, I saw him lighting that stuff in the pan. And I spoke to him and I said, hey, you Dolo you don’t need to be lighting that I have two lamps from the previous hurricane that I could lend you He was like, uh, no, it’s okay.”

 

She said that she is grateful that her family all escaped the fire safely. However, as all their possessions were lost to the flames, they are struggling to get back on their feet and are in need of assistance to do so.

 

Alicia Rancharan

“This took me over never thought that this would be me. I’ve seen many incidents where people are displaced by a fire. I never thought that I would have end up in this situation, but it could have been worse. I thank the Lord that my kids are safe. I rather losing materialistic items than being lost the life of any one of my kids. Everything I lost. I recently borrowed a loan from Belize Bank to finish completing my home. I recently purchased new brand sofa, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine. Everything I lost. The only thing that I was left with was that black and white clothing I had on for a funeral. My kids lost everything, their toys, their bicycles, all their footwears, everything. So, I’m just pleading to the public to render some assistance. I know that there’s still good people out there. I’m asking from the depths of my heart to help them, try and assist, whether it be food items, clothing, household, finance wise. Anything will be greatly appreciated.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.