AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Fire at Pedro's Hotel and Inn

Not all is lost, just kitchen and restaurant. Animal Clinic is intact.

Photos by the San Pedro Sun
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Fire under control at Pedro's Inn. It appears that the kitchen and restaurant is totally destroyed, other buildings remain intact.

Photos by the San Pedro Sun
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Early morning fire at Pedro's Inn consumes two story building housing the restaurant, bar/club and laundry section in the back of building.
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Photos by the Ambergris Today

Morning fire at Pedro's Hotel and Inn under investigation

Residents in the nearby area reported to awake to the smell of smoke and the crackling noise of the fire. They immediately called the fire department. The wooden building was engulfed, threatening to spread to the rest of the property and other homes nearby. As firefighters along with a couple of police officers fought the inferno, residents living near the hotel doused their homes with water, fearing the tall flames of the fire could spread to their houses. Owners of nearby golf cart companies were also observed securing their assets from the threatening flames.

Fortunately, the fire was contained and did not spread to other buildings or homes in the vicinity. The firefighters reportedly used water from the hotel's swimming pool to attack the flames from different angles, while fire engines parked on the side of the hotel provided power to the water pumps. No one was injured, and some of the hotel guests are reportedly staying at another building on the property, far from where the fire occurred. Pedro's Hotel and Inn on Seagrape Drive recently changed management. It continues to be a popular place on the island and a favorite for both locals and tourists alike. It is known for good entertainment and affordable accommodations.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

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Pedro's Inn. The Aftermath..

Fire at Pedro's Could Be Arson

There was a fire in the heart of San Pedro Town on Sunday morning. It totally destroyed Pedro's Inn - a favourite destination for backpackers.

The Fire Department says it could have been another block burner but they were lucky this time:

Channel 7

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La Isla Bonita Hotel Destroyed by Fire

There was an early morning fire in San Pedro on Sunday that could have caused massive structural damage to nearby properties had the Belize National Fire Service not responded promptly.� The blaze is believed to have started inside the kitchen at Pedro's Inn and quickly spread across the building before destroying an adjacent bar.� That's where a team of firemen stationed on the island was able to extinguish the blaze.� While Pedro's in was decimated, they were able to prevent the fire from spreading.� News Five's Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A thirty-two room hotel in San Pedro was reduced to cinders on Sunday morning when it went up in flames.� Pedro's Inn, a budget stay for visitors of Ambergris Caye, was consumed by an inferno that gutted both floors of the wooden building.� When a team of firefighters arrived at the scene shortly before six o'clock, the structure was already engulfed.

Voice of: Gladstone Bucknor, Station Chief, San Pedro Fire Dept.

"At about 5:46 a.m. on the twenty-third of May, 2021, the San Pedro Branch of the National Fire Service received a call of a structural fire at Pedro's Inn on Sea Grape Drive.� Fire Appliance 3514 was dispatched to the location.� On arrival at the scene, a two-storey wooden structure with zinc roof measuring approximately thirty-five feet by fifty feet was seen with thick black smoke coming from out of the top front which is the east side of the building and flames at the rear which is the north and northwest of that building."

Another property adjacent to the burning hotel was already catching fire.� The responding firemen had to act quickly to douse both buildings.

Voice of Gladstone Bucknor

"Also seen was a separate building located in front of the burning structure approximately four feet away.� Fire was seen behind the counter of the bar area.� Fire personnel got into operation extinguishing the isolated fire behind the bar area with one of the fire extinguishers located on the premises.� The arrival of the appliance, the fire department personnel got into operation and brought the blaze, the burning building under control."

In Belize City this afternoon, Station Supervisor Kenneth Mortis, of the Belize National Fire Service, provided additional details on the inferno that eviscerated the hotel and the nearby bar.

Kenneth Mortis, Station Supervisor, Belize National Fire Service

"It was a scary Sunday morning for the firefighting team over in San Pedro.� The smoke and the fire seen from a distance painted a different picture versus when we actually reached, versus firefighting, versus the aftermath.� We were fortunate enough, on behalf of the administration of the fire department and the ministry, I must recognize the firefighting efforts from the guys out there in San Pedro.� We believe they did an excellent job in containing that damage to what was left.� Looking at the surroundings, I am pretty sure it could have been worse."

There are reports that the fire may have been deliberately set.� As a result, one person has been taken into police custody for questioning.

Kenneth Mortis

"We have that same information as well.� We are working closely with the police department to try and find out the character.� We are trying to see if there is any footage out there, any camera that picked up anything out of the ordinary. It did initially start from the kitchen area.� We have confirmed with management that the kitchen wasn't busy at that time hence the reason we are not leaning towards the fact that it might not have been something left on or abandoned.� Even the remains of the burners and so forth still show that they were in the off stage, so that can confirm that the fire didn't start from any stove or any stuff like that. We learnt that Pedro's Inn was insured with RF&G.� At this current moment, the fire department is still trying to wrap up its investigation in trying to determine exactly the cause, and even if inquiring minds would want to know the estimated loss to the establishment."

Channel 5

Arson investigation into fire at Pedro's Hotel and Inn underway; one suspect in custody

The cause of the early morning fire at Pedro's Hotel and Inn on Seagrape Drive in San Pedro Town on Sunday, May 23rd, is not yet clear, but authorities are considering arson. This has reportedly led to the detention of an individual as investigators complete their probe to determine the exact cause of the blaze. The National Fire Service stated on Tuesday, May 25th, that they are working closely with the police. According to station supervisor Kenneth Morris, arson is being considered. "We might want to look at that route. The time of the fire, which was at 5:46AM, was not something at the current initial stage whereby the fire department can outrightly say it's an electrical flaw or it is as a result of a stove left unmonitored," said Morris. He added that they are not overlooking those factors. However, it appears that the building might have been intentionally set on fire. Investigators are also trying to locate surveillance footage. Unofficial reports indicate that the cables of some of the security cameras appeared to have been cut off.

One male person remains in custody as investigation continues. The person being interrogated is said to have been at odds with the proprietor of Pedro's Inn and is a prime suspect.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

Police release Pedro's Hotel and Inn arson suspect

Arson is the suspected cause of the fire at Pedro's Hotel and Inn, which led to the apprehension of a male individual for questioning. The suspect remained in police custody for a couple of days, but according to reliable reports, on Wednesday, May 26th, he was released.

The management of Pedro's Hotel and Inn have been approached for comments but have declined. As of Thursday, May 27th, an update on the investigation has not been made available. The local fire service indicated that information could be shared at this time as the investigation continues. A report on the total loss due to the fire damages is also pending.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun