Major Residential Fire on Caye Caulker Leaves 14 Homeless
A residential fire on the island of Caye Caulker early this morning alarmed residents as the screams of those living in the homes affected rang out. But despite the firefighters who responded and the bucket brigade the neighbors formed, the three buildings situated right next to each other were burnt to the ground. The residents were only able to save themselves and the clothes on their backs. Today, they were tearful as they spoke about the years of hard work that went into building their homes and ensuring their children lived comfortably. But this resilient family isn't giving up yet, but they're asking for assistance from the wider public. Courtney Menzies travelled to the island today and has this story.
Courtney Menzies: 7 adults and 7 children watched as everything they owned went up in smoke this morning in Caye Caulker. A fire engulfed the homes, some just recently built, around 2:15 and by the time the smoke cleared, everything had turned to ash. Now, they're starting over from scratch but will need all the help they can get.
Leslie Verde, Fire Victim
"My mom, she is really sad because we are not family that can say we will get our house burned down and the next day we could build back. We are not rich, we didn't have fancy houses, but we worked hard for it and that's the main thing that hurts."
The matriarch of the family had finally built her house after years of struggling, and just when she thought she could enjoy her senior years, the fire burnt that dream to the ground. She was so overwhelmed that she fainted while the fire on ongoing.
And her daughter, Leslie Verde, who was set to work on her own home this month, said that all she could think about was saving her three children. Her voice was hoarse because of all the screaming she had done this morning.
Leslie Verde, Fire Victim
"I was asleep, I was in my bed when they called, when my common-law woke me and said the house is getting burned. And I thought it was a joke but when I got up and I got outside, I saw the big fire. Yes we did have time to take out something but at that moment, all I thought was my kids, to get them out. So that was the only thing we could do, just take the main things out but at that time material stuff we could get it but life we can't. So that's the only thing that… we wanted to even save the house but we couldn't."
It was Verde's sister-in-law, Stephanie Dominguez, who alerted the rest of the family that they needed to get out as soon as possible.
Stephanie Dominguez, Fire Victim
"I don't know what happened at the moment, because I just know when I opened my eyes when I heard my husband hollering saying, "Fire! Fire! Get out of the house!" When I turn and I opened my eye and I look, I saw my window where I wash my dishes was already in flames, like fire was already in my house, I just grabbed my son and I rush outside. From there I start bawling, bawling, for everyone that my house is on fire. My sister-in-law came out, my other sister-in-law came out, my mother-in-law, everyone came out, the neighbors tried to grab bucket try to off the fire but the fire just went."
And she watched as the new appliances she worked so hard for turned in ashes.
Stephanie Dominguez, Fire Victim
"I bought my blender just the other, and it's new, just today we planned to go to split to do a little thing and use it and see how it work, I just bought my refridge, my refridge have not even two months, my microwave, my TV, I had a lot of stuff in my house and that really hurt because I really work hard for my things. Sometimes I don't even want to go to work but I still go to work, struggle and thing, but I still go because I know what I want in my house and that really really hurt."
But how did the fire even start? Well, Verde brother had allowed a homeless man to sleep under their house. He wasn't there a week before he caused the fire that burnt it to the ground.
Leslie Verde, Fire Victim
"I tried to talk to him, I spoke to him and I said, why you did it to us? Why you didn't hail us before the fire was spreading? He said all he felt was a heat on his feet like the fire was already burning his foot off and he said that he tried to out it but I think when he realized that he couldn't out the fire himself he tried to call my other little brother because he noticed that the whole house was in fore already so he tried to tell my little brother because it's on fire, when my little brother got out of the house, the whole thing was on fire and the only thing he could do is call his common-law and wake up his son and get out, no one could take nothing out, my sister-in-law didn't take money, they lost money, they lost everything."
And while that man was at fault, the community immediately jumped in to help with a bucket brigade from a nearby lagoon.
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
"The structure was in flames, it was big, it was scary to be honest. And the firemen were trying their best, they tried to start the firetruck and they had some difficulties, they had to reroute the main source of water and that's when they got through and they started to do their work."
But while the incident was tragic, the support from the Caye Caulker Community has been overwhelming.
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
"A business owner provided lunch, another individual provided dinner, the calls immediately started to come in, h ow we could help, the CDRT immediately active, Ms Bonnie was on it, how can we help, and we opened the community center and donations are trickling in slowly but the love is always there and we're grateful for that in times of disaster."
"We're looking at providing them with building materials so if anybody it out there and would want to assist with building materials and we'd greatly appreciate that. And if you all want to reach out it's not a problem, but we do want to help them."
Both Verde and Dominguez said that they wanted to give their kids a head start in life by providing a home for them, but now that hard work has been burnt up.
And while they watched the flames tear their home apart, they were glad that everyone was safe. And they're also grateful for the support they are receiving.
Leslie Verde, Fire Victim
"The community is helping a lot with food, with clothes, so I really appreciate everyone that's out there helping us in this hard time."
Courtney Menzies:
"Is there anything that you're especially in need of, even if it's for the kids, that you would ask the wider community outside of Caye Caulker to assist with?"
Leslie Verde, Fire Victim
"School supplies. School stuff. Because that's the main thing I was just getting, little by little, but my mom is the one, well all of us need help in something, but thanks for everyone that's helping with the little they're doing."
The 7 children affected are between the ages of 8-months to 11-years-old. The family can be contacted at 636-2070 or 672-7685.
Channel 7