Elderly Woman Passes in Late Night House Fire

Tonight, a family in Dangriga is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating house fire that tragically claimed the life of their beloved Sonia Sambula. Just before midnight on Monday, flames engulfed a home in the Benguche area of Dangriga, where Sonia and her two adult grandsons were sleeping. Awakened by the smoke, they tried to escape, but heartbreakingly, Sonia couldn’t make it out in time. Witnesses say the fire was too fierce for anyone to help her, and she perished inside. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more on this unfortunate incident.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Since the early hours of the morning, these siblings have been tirelessly clearing away the charred remains of their family home, which caught fire earlier today. It’s a grueling task, not just because of the physical labor involved, but also the emotional toll of knowing that just hours ago, their beloved sister, Sonia Sambula, lost her life in the blaze.

 

Archangel Blanch Sambula, Sister of Deceased

“When I got a call early this morning, I was informed that my sister was perished in a fire. I think it started about After twelve before the and it’s so unfortunate that you know that had happened to my sister because she was a loving, outgoing person.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Did your sister live here by herself?”

 

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“No, she lived here with her grandkids and one of her daughters.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Any of them, did they get any injuries from the fire?”

 

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“None of them received any injury. My sister was the only one that got killed in the fire.”

 

Sonia lived in an elevated single-story home with her daughter, Marsha, and her two grandsons. Last night, it was just Sonia and her grandsons at home when the strong smell of smoke jolted them awake. One of her grandsons shared the heart-wrenching story of how he battled between fear and frustration, desperately trying to save himself and his grandmother.

 

Voice of: Fire Victim

“When I mi sleep, I mi di rest up and then I start see flames start erupt like round eleven  thirty so then I rush downstairs and I downstairs and I check weh gone on. And when I check da flames. And then I run upstairs fir try save my granny but then I can’t because smoke done deh inna my lungs already, I di cough up. Fa mi look fi gone to so I just spin round back and run outside. I jump from way top of the veranda. About ten foot.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So you’re saying that at that moment you couldn’t breathe the smoke was so thick?”

 

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Yes, thick bad like firehearth.”

 

Neighbors recall the chilling sound of Sonia’s cries for help echoing through the neighborhood, spurring many to rush over with buckets of water and calls to the authorities. Dreadfully, the fire had already become too intense for anyone to enter, and despite their best efforts, Sonia was overcome by the flames.

 

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Nobody mi cya help because it mi done too late.”

 

Britney Gordon

“It was already engulfed in flames?”

 

Voice of: Fire Victim

“Flames. Flames and two tank mi de in de.”

 

The cause of the fire remains a mystery, but the family has come together, seeking support and answers. Sonia’s eldest son, Denmark Sambula, who lives in Belize City, rushed down to Dangriga as soon as he could.

 

Denmark Sambula, Son of Deceased

“I di sleep my phone ring bout twelve-thirty, quarter to one. When I answer my call my uncle, right ova deh so, he ask me if I know weh di goi an? I want know. No. Tell me weh di go an.  He seh yo ma house deh pan fire and yo ma deh trap inside and ih can’t come out, I da like what. I jump up and my wife right ya so, she hear the conversation cuz I had it pan speaker and she jump up and bawl to.”

 

Sambula explains that a wave of helplessness immediately overtook him upon hearing the news.

Denmark Sambula

“Mein I wish I coulda mi fly from Belize City to Dangriga at the moment mami. I wish wa miracle could mi happen but mein the father God know’s best you know. I can’t question his doing and thing,”

 

Sonia is fondly remembered as a joyful woman with a deep religious faith. Neighbors often recall hearing her sing gospel music at the top of her lungs, her voice filling the air and reaching their homes.

 

Denmark Sambula

“Mein she da wa loving mother. Every day she go church. She never got time fi stay home. I da like, ma, you not just come from church? She said, well, I gwen again. I have wa lee prayer meeting. I’m leaving. I tell her, ma, relax, ma. Go tomorrow morning. You know, she always find time for church. Every day she got time fi go to church. Yeah, love and she loved all ah we. Ih love ih grandchildren.”

 

On top of losing their beloved Sonia, Marsha and her sons have lost all their personal belongings and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. The Sambula family is reaching out to the public for any donations to help ease this process. Denmark, Sonia’s eldest son, is stepping up to support his sister and can be contacted at 606-4530 for donations.

 

Denmark Sambula

“Family from Dangriga, from Belmopan from Belize City, everybody come, unite up and thing and try mek all ah we get over this grief together.”

 

Archangel Blanch Sambula

“She was  wow, somebody who loves to help. It wouldn’t take a dollar for her to help someone. Once you’re in need, she would help you.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.