“Everybody Will Start All Over, and that is Very Hard.”

“Everybody lost everything,” said Nelson Middleton, the manager of the Centavos Apartment Complex in San Pedro, which was destroyed in a fire early Sunday morning. As previously reported, the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. on Sea Star Street, affecting 48 people, including children ages 2–12, according to the San Pedro Lions Club.

Milton says he manages the pine apartment complex on behalf of the owner, Gloria Peal Tucker, who lives in the U.S.

Milton told News 5 that his son informed him of the fire. “My son called me while I was in Camalote and said one of the buildings was on fire at Centavo,” he said. Milton advised his son to call the fire department, which arrived shortly after.

Milton said, “I lost cash because we collect rent; we lost computers; we lost everything.” The value of the buildings alone is estimated to be over half a million dollars, not including the losses suffered by the residents.

Some residents have reported a suspected arson case. Fermin Witzil, a resident, reported hearing hissing gas before an explosion occurred.

The fire also damaged a nearby SUV and motorcycle. The timing of the fire, just after Christmas and before New Year’s, has made the loss especially difficult for those affected. Milton stated, “At this time, everybody will start all over, and that is very hard.”