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| The second floor of the temporary shelter was
extensively damaged by fire
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From bad to worse, so the saying goes. Last Thursday,
some residents of San Pedro received another fright as a fire threatened their
lives and belongings. These people, homeless since the last natural disaster,
unfortunately experienced more trauma as a fire engulfed the second floor of
their temporary shelter. The residents managed to escape unhurt, but the
upstairs of the building and its contents on Barrier Reef Drive were severely
destroyed. According to San Pedro Fire Chief Denice
Plummer, he received a telephone call about 5:20 p.m. although a first truck had
already been dispatched to the site after firemen witnessed smoke in the
vicinity. Fire Chief Plummer says that he is grateful to the people who tried to
help but suggests that before assisting firemen with their equipment they should
check with the fireman in charge. He commented, "I would like to thank the
people who assisted us but want to emphasize that in the case of a fire only
selected help is needed. Mr. Plummer also reminds people who want to volunteer,
that training sessions are held every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00
p.m. Anyone attending the training will get a clear idea of the plan of attack
when a fire threatens. He confirmed the
cause of the fire was a faulty connection on a butane tank which was located
inside the building where three different groups of people were staying. Because
of quick response from the San Pedro Fire Department and its volunteers, the
fire was kept from spreading to neighboring houses and the downstairs portion of
the building was also saved. A report from
the San Pedro Police Department states: At about 5:20 p.m. on November
2nd, 2000, police responded
to a fire on Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro Town where a two-storey concrete
building was seen engulfed by fire. Investigations revealed that at about 5:15
p.m. on that same day, one Ernest Billary, 27, Belizean woodcarver of the above
address, was in the middle upper flat cooking some food when he observed the
rubber hose had a small leakage. There was then a small blaze and the fire
started to spread quickly. A few minutes later the gas tank exploded causing a
blaze to quickly spread over the upper flat of the building. Also present at the
time of the explosion was one Kenneth Welch, 51, Jamaican national of the above
address. He sustained minor burns on the left hand. Welch, Billary and one
Marvin Vernon, 36, Belizean woodcarver, occupied one of the rooms. Welch and
Billary lost tools and clothing valued at $2,500 and Vernon lost clothing valued
at $1,500. One Oscar Correa, 25, Belizean laborer, his wife Esmeralda Pineda,
19, domestic, and their children, Oscar Correa Jr. and Esmeraldita Correa also
occupied the room. One Martha Yacab, 31, unemployed, Jose Yacab, 18, laborer and
Linnette Yacab, 28, domestic worker, occupied the third room. None of the above
persons were injured. The value of the damage caused to the building is not yet
ascertained. One Gus Tabony of Belize City owns the building, and it is not yet
known if the building is insured. No damage was caused to the lower flat. The
fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. No foul play is
suspected.
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