Former Children’s Home Burns Down  

Authorities are looking into a fire that completely destroyed a building in the Cayo District early this morning. The blaze broke out around 4 a.m. at the Ontario Christian School, forcing the school to cancel classes for the day. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the flames didn’t spread to any other buildings. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the details.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Students at Ontario Primary School in Cayo District got an unexpected day off today, but it came at a steep cost. Early this morning, a fire broke out and completely consumed one of the buildings on the school grounds, leaving behind nothing but charred remains. Vilma Ramirez, a local resident, shares how she found out about the blaze near her grandchildren’s school.

 

Vilma Ramirez, Ontario Village Resident

“Well this morning I went to my mom next door and one of my friend come from out there, come look for a medicine. And she tell me, she seh gyal yo hear what happen? The compound get burned. I say what? Why? I don’t know. Ih seh four o’clock this morning she seh.”

 

 

 

Residents say the building that burned down was the old Mulhollen Children’s Home, which had been unused for about three years. It was less than a hundred feet from the school. Thankfully, firefighters managed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading. However, teachers reported that their classrooms were filled with the smell of smoke and covered in soot. The rainy weather this morning also helped to dampen the still-smoldering remains.

 

 

Vilma Ramirez

“I say what? I can’t believe it. Because that place de deh from 1957. Very old place so we couldn’t expect that bun up.”

 

Ramirez is grateful that the school was not impacted by the flames as her ten and twelve-year-old grandchildren prefer to be learning rather than stuck at home.

 

Britney Gordon

“Did they tell you when classes would open again?”

Vilma Ramirez

“No.They neva did tell me.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So you’re hoping that maybe by tomorrow the kids can go back to school?”

 

Vilma Ramirez

“Yes because they don’t like to stay home.”

 

While villagers are relieved that things weren’t worse, they’re still a bit shaken by the incident. They’re hoping investigators can quickly figure out what caused the fire.

 

Vilma Ramirez

“My daughter, my son. My two daughters and my son. Now da my grandkids.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And your grandkids are staying home today. They came and told you?”

 

Vilma Ramirez

“Yes. Ney seh ney surprise that happen. Because ney neva expect that mi going to happen out there.”

 

 

 

According to Kenneth Mortis, Belize City Station Supervisor at the National Fire Service, authorities are still investigating the incident and are yet to determine the source of the fire. Britney Gordon for News Five.