Abandoned Building Erupts in Flames, Firefighters Concerned

All that’s left of the building that once stood at the corner of Castle and Victoria streets in Belize City is a pile of ash after an early morning fire. Authorities say the two-story wooden structure was abandoned and didn’t have electricity. Thankfully, the National Fire Service responded quickly and managed to contain the blaze. Belize District Station Officer Gladstone Bucknor reported that no injuries were observed, but the investigation is still ongoing. Here’s more on that.

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Station Officer, Belize District

“Approximately about five fifty this morning, the National Fire Service received call about a structural fire at the corner of Castle and Victoria Street when the guys did arrive both stations responded to that scene. They saw a large house fire.  When large, I mean it’s a two-story structure, wooden structure in roofing. That building is an abandoned building and didn’t have electricity, let me make that clear. Didn’t have electricity at it, so the fire had to be started from inside and brought to the inside.”

 

Reporter

“What do you believe started the fire?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“At this moment we cannot see what actually started the fire, but however, some type of heat had to be introduced into the area.” 

 

Reporter

“Do you believe that while it was abandoned there were maybe people, is there an evidence of people staying or doing something in there?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“Alright, from our preliminary investigation, what we discovered was that they do have squatters in and out of the building. And one main person that was frequently at this, at the house was somebody by the name of Harold. Name as full name and detail as there, we don’t know the full name. We have conflicting information that yes, he was there and no he wasn’t there. So we still looking into it. Actually, part of the investigation, we learned that some kind of heat was injured last night between nine and nine and eleven.  So we’re still doing an investigation on.”

 

Reporter

“You wanted to speak about the issue of these abandoned lots and the, to the council, not, taking care of that.”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“Yes. Within that area we have a lot of abandoned building. Some are neglected and used for criminal. And we have this abandoned building like this around the neighborhood. It pose a fire hazard to the rest of the community, especially to other buildings as well. Because anything do occur. Imagine somebody lost their building due to an abandoned building.”