Xmas Preparations Halted by Aloe Vera Street Fire

Firefighters in Belize City had their hands full on Friday night, responding to two separate house fires in the St. Martin’s area within minutes of each other. The first call came in around seven p.m. for a blaze on Aloe Vera Street where they found a family and their neighbors fighting to prevent a fire from spreading. Shane Williams visited the fire victims and has this report.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

While most Belizeans are decorating and beautifying their homes for the Christmas season, Diane Pelayo is simply grateful for life and hoping for a quick return to normalcy after a fire destroyed her children’s bedroom on Friday night. It could have been far worse if not for the quick, heroic actions of Pelayo’s loved ones and neighbors on Aloe Vera Street.

 

Diane Pelayo, Fire Survivor

“I was in my room. I am laying down. And then my daughter came inside and saw smoke coming from out of my son’s room. She called me and told me to come look at this. And when I went and I saw the smoke, I ran to their room and that was where when I push open the door, I saw the fire blazing the hole. All their beds were on fire and it was coming out. So our quick, our quick, um, response was like I had a hose hooked up inside and my son was sitting on the ground trying to out the fire. My neighbors, they came along and helped me. Um, they lent us a hose and we were fighting the fire from outside. So we had two hose, one inside and outside and. We were getting any type of water we could find. So my neighbors, they called the fire department and by the time they came, we already had the fire out under control and out.”

 

The National Fire Service hasn’t released its findings yet, but Diane believes the blaze started from a tablet left plugged in, and now she’s warning other Belizeans to be cautious.

 

Diane Pelayo

“My message to the public, please guys, make sure everything electrical. No, please not let no device plugged in on the bed because that’s what started the fire for us. A tablet plugged in, catch fire on the bed.”

 

Diane’s six children spent Friday night sleeping on a cardboard on the floor of a neighbour’s house. By Saturday morning they started cleaning up. The task feels overwhelming inside the smoke-filled home, but it’s a big step toward normalcy for the family. Their quick response, combined with the community’s effort and bravery, kept the fire from consuming the entire house, though the boys’ bedroom couldn’t be saved. Diane’s four sons only made it out with the clothes on their backs.

 

Diane Pelayo 

“They only managed to have the clothes on their backs. So that’s where we are at right now. Damages to the room, the house, the roof. Um. We are trying slowly but surely to rebuild, um, schools. My son’s boat, schools have assisted us. A C, C and Williams are assisting and neighbors and friends are assisting boats. I am asking if anyone like boys clothes, shoes, at least help with bed. That’s what we need right now for my sons.”

 

The Pelayo family is in urgent need of financial assistance, beds, construction materials, and medium to large clothing for young men aged fourteen to twenty-one. Shane Williams for News Five.