Birthday Cake Catches Room Fire

What started as a joyous birthday celebration turned into a nightmare for one woman when the lit candle on her cake set her bed on fire, destroying all her belongings. The incident happened on Sunday morning in the room she occupies on the lower flat of her family home on Fairweather Street. Fortunately, the family of seven still has most of their home intact, except for two bedrooms that will need repairs. News Five’s Marion Ali has the full story.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

The thick smoke billowing from the residence on Fairweather Street just before eleven on Sunday morning had an unexpected origin, a birthday cake. Astajah Smith had lit a candle on her cake in her bedroom and turned around to snap some pictures. But things quickly took a turn for the worse, as her sister Rackiesha Gregory explained to News Five.

 

Voice of: Rackiesha Gregory, Sister of Fire Victim

“Ih mi done light the cake, but ih mi about for tek pictures and within a split second, by the time she turn fi reach fi her phone from wherever it was and she turn back, she realize the candle for some reason flip over pon the bed and the mattress start ketch fire.”

 

According to Gregory, when Astajah realized she couldn’t put out the rapidly spreading fire by herself, she quickly alerted her family upstairs. Within minutes, helpful neighbors jumped into action to assist.

 

Voice of: Rackiesha Gregory

“By the time we came downstairs, we saw the flames coming through the window, you hear the wires popping up, her electronics and stuff like that and we yell for help and fortunately the neighbors were with us. Everyone came out, they came out with buckets and hoses. We have the neighbor across the street, her son was right in the front here. Her son constantly called until he got the fire pump. And they came really quickly and that’s how the fire was contained.”

 

 

Firefighters were just minutes away, which made all the difference, according to Gladstone Bucknor, the Belize District’s Station Supervisor. Their quick response helped contain the situation before it got even worse.

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Belize District Station Supervisor, National Fire Service

“Seeing that it’s right across the bridge, they responded very quickly. Bear in mind, it’s a wooden structure, two-story, and only one just a portion of the room got damaged downstairs, that’s really quick.”

 

Reporter

“ So it could have gotten worse?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“It could have gotten far worse than what it did. It’s a two-story wooden structure, only one room in that area, 16 by 10, got slightly damaged, not completely damaged. It all occurred due to the young lady’s birthday, Ms. Smith’s birthday, and she was having her birthday cake and the fan accidentally knocked down the cake with the candle on top.”

 

 

Although the family didn’t get to celebrate the birthday or enjoy the cake, they’re grateful that all seven of them, including two children, are safe and still have their home.

 

Voice of: Rackiesha Gregory

“It was supposed to be a birthday celebration, but we’re thankful that we’re all alive and no one was hurt. And, yes, it’s material stuff. But It’ll take a while to get it back, but we’re grateful that we’re all alive.”

 

Gregory says the family can always rebuild, but they will need a little help.

 

Voice of: Rackiesha Gregory

“By the grace of God, if we receive help and the family comes together and pull through. ’cause once we get materials, you know, we can go from there. ’cause my dad’s field of work is construction and my husband could always assist him.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.