Fire at Abandoned Building Could Have Been Deadly

A wooden building went up in flames around 8:30 PM on Tuesday night in Belama Phase Four. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but fire officials are worried that this fire, like others recently, could have been deadly for nearby homes. Station Supervisor Gladstone Bucknor from the National Fire Service told reporters that the property, although owned, had been abandoned for months and was likely being used by drug addicts for illegal activities. He believes the National Fire Service should team up with the Belize City Council to demolish abandoned and rundown buildings that pose a danger to the community.

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Belize District Station Officer, National Fire Service

“We received a call of a structural fire in Belama Phase Four. Both of our stations responded to that location. On their arrival, they witnessed a wooden structure engulfed in flames, so they got into operation and knocked it down very quickly I might say. What caused it is not determined at this moment. We know it started at the western side of the building and there was no electricity. There were no utilities at the building. The building was abandoned. No one lived there for the past months from last year November. I guess that we need to work more in hand with the council so we could try and look at these abandoned structures and try get them torn down or get them sorted out.”

 

Marion Ali
Because going on trends, what has been the cause of these fires?

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“Well, normally people will actually occupy the building. A random person will pass through the building. So, you got drug addicts, and these buildings are known for criminal activities. When I say we need to work closely, should in the event that our abandoned building is next to an occupied building, just imagine that building catches fire – the abandoned building – and you have other buildings next door to it. I mean, people will burn out of their homes.”