New Year Begins in Ashes for Belama Resident

What should have been a festive holiday quickly turned into heartbreak for a Belize City man after his home went up in flames. It happened around nine o’clock Sunday night in Belama Phase Four, when thirty‑two‑year‑old Damian Sanchez was alerted by his neighbors that a fire was tearing through his house. With the smoke still settling, Sanchez now finds himself starting the new year facing the daunting task of replacing his belongings and repairing his home so it’s once again livable. We spoke with him earlier today as he reflected on what may have caused the fire.

 

Voice of: Damian Sanchez, Fire Victim

“ I was at my mom’s house and someone came to the house and informed me that there was smoke coming through the window. So we rushed to the scene and we saw all neighbors on the side of the road, and then fortunately they called the fire department. They came and they did what they could. Most of the things inside the house is torched. It’s yeah, not pretty good scene there. But thankfully everything outside of it, it’s good. But everything inside it, yeah, everything’s dark in there, but fortunately thanks to God, you could just rebuild one. And by the time it could, at one certain point could look better than it used to be.”

 

Britney Gordon

“ What is the possible reason for this fire?”

 

Voice of: Damian Sanchez

“That’s a good question because there is no live wire in the house, so  it could a lot of my neighbors told me during the time that there was a guy in a white pickup truck looking around going on the steps and when they noticed, when he noticed that they were watching, he just left. With that same time and date reference. They later saw smoke, so coincidence. Maybe he’s the guy who did it. But yeah and I also, when everything was done with the fire department, I noticed there was a slight crack on the window shutters. So possibly that’s how he did it.”

 

Sanchez says while the damage inside his home is extensive, he’s thankful no one was hurt. As investigators work to determine what sparked the fire, he’s now focused on rebuilding, hoping this difficult start to the new year will eventually lead to a fresh beginning.”