Was Sunday’s Fire in an Abandoned House Caused by Squatters?

According to the Belize District Station Officer Gladstone Bucknor, Sunday’s fire on Hunter’s Lane in Belize City was an abandoned building that squatters were using to stay in. He told reporters today, “The first building appears to be abandoned, but it’s under investigation. We believe squatters were staying there.”

Bucknor stated that the fire department was alerted at around 2:30 in the afternoon, and three fire trucks responded to the scene.

The fire damaged a neighbouring apartment building. Bucknor said the blaze severely damaged the ground floor of a nearby apartment, home to two families. “The first floor was completely destroyed, and the ground floor received significant heat and water damage,” Bucknor added.

A nearby resident, Joan Lightburn, told News 5, “The house was abandoned over there. It was right opposite us. And as I say, we just – I just felt the heat.”

Bucknor added that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.