from Maralyn:
Awoken at aprox. 2 AM this morning to flames and smoke at Seaside Cabanas and Hotel. Burnt to the ground..Thanks that no one was hurt (we pray and winds were very low therefor it was contained to only the Seaside hotel. It was tended to quickly. Then fire broke out at the split burning down the new thatch just put up last month and is also to the ground and again to the ground... thank god everyone is fine and i will rest Maralyn

sorry to hear the bad news

As one of the resorts that our company represents we are all saddened by the tragic news of the devastating fire, but happy that none of our friends were hurt. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all at Seaside Cabanas

The staff at Magnum Belize Tours

From Lee of Cyber Caye Caulker:

Total loss, only one partial wall remains. The fire inspectors are here
investigating. Definitely arson. Here are the pics again. The fire is still
smoldering, 14 hours later, they shoot water on it from time to time. They
found the safe in the office and were cutting it open to get their
customer's passports for them. 5 rooms were occupied.
--Lee

here's a few photos

Now that I look at the pictures I realize this is where we stopped a week ago today for a cold drink. Irm wasn't feeling well and we came to the beautiful bar to get out of the sun for awhile. I took a bunch of pictures because I thought it was so pretty there. One of the nicer spots on CC. What a tremendous loss. Does anyone know if the amazon parrot in the bar (I think his name is Buddy) made it out okay? Best wishes to the owners in rebuilding. mobunny

I wanted to bring this question to the top again. Does anyone know if Buddy the amazon parrot (I think that's his name) made it out of the fire okay? mobunny

No one wanted to be the messenger. No, Buddy did not make it out alive.

That news just breaks my heart. Thank you for letting me know. mobunny

Any leads on who set the fire?

No arrests have been made. I find it uncanny that I live on an island were nothing goes unnoticed, everything get a commment, (including your hairstyle), yet no one saw anything.

ARSON SUSPECTED IN CAYE CAULKER
Fire officials believe that two fires that occurred on Caye Caulker in
the wee hours of last Friday morning could have been purposely set by
the same individual. A team of fire officials conducted investigations
at the scenes of the Split and the Seaside Cabanas. According to
eyewitness reports, the fire that destroyed the Seaside Cabanas was
first spotted in the thatched roofing of the 1.4 million-dollar
business. The blaze that caused over $10,000.00 worth of damages at the
Split, also started in the thatched roofing. A fire official told Love
News this morning that there are no indication of electrical malfunction
at either business. What led officials to believe strongly that it was
arson involved was that while authorities were on their way to the fire
scene at the Split about a mile away, they encountered tree branches
blocking the road. Nearby, a bicycle was found lying at the roadside.
Seaside Cabanas was owned by Gary Robinson, who only recently invested
in t!
he business. George Bester owns the Split. Both businesses were
insured.