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| Raging fire engulfs Shop 1001 and Nelder
residence
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| Community members use hose to wet down adjacent building in order
to keep fire from spreading - photo by Julian
Rivero
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| Buildings
destroyed by the blaze - photo by Julian
Rivero
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An enormous cloud of smoke and blazing
flames was the awful sight on Barrier Reef Drive last weekend when an
unfortunate fire destroyed two buildings. Fire engine sirens called the
people to attention and led them to the site where the fire had
commenced. Many believed everything was going to be under control but for
some unexplained reason the fire truck's pump would not work. The fire
department ran frantically back and forth to start the pumps but to no
avail. This is when the community decided to take matters into their own
hands to prevent the fire from spreading. By then the flames had
intensified and spread to another house. Quick thinking by the locals
immediately started a bucket brigade going from the beach to the site.
Pigtail and lard buckets used by residents for many household purposes
were thrown from verandas and quickly gathered to help collect water. The
lines of volunteers soon ballooned into hundreds of people. Young
children, the elderly, tourists and locals came together to fight the
fire which was quickly consuming the buildings. At this point many bold
people got on the roof of the neighboring houses risking their lives to
help save them from fire. At this time the flames were so huge that many
were afraid that hotels on the opposite side of the street would be
engulfed by the fire. Fast thinking by the owners of these establishments
to keep their places literally showered with water kept them from
catching fire. All this time the fire department's water pump was still
not functioning.
A thunderous cheer from the hundreds of
volunteers signaled the dying out of the fire but still more had to be
done. Like an action packed movie, when the police officers arrive to the
scene of the crime after the hero has single-handly destroyed the
villain, so was this case. With the fire under control, miraculously the
fire department's pump began to work. An hour and twenty-five minutes
after the fire had commenced, two houses had been completely destroyed
and the fire was kept from spreading.
The following statement was released by
the San Pedro Police Department concerning the residents affected and
their losses incurred. Clive Nelder, 56, Canadian/Belizean pilot of No.
63 Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro Town, reported that at about 7:45 p.m.
on Friday, December
17th whilst on the
verandah at the above address he heard a cracking noise coming from
inside the house. He immediately checked into the matter and saw smoke
coming from the ceiling fan. He cut off the switch box and went
downstairs and the fire then spread quickly inside the wooden structure
apartment. The eastern section of the apartment is used to house the
complainant's business place namely as Royas Schulz and Nelder Architect.
The estimated cost of damage to the household items and construction
material is $180,000. The damage estimate for the office equipment is
$150,000. Also destroyed was the sum of BZ$20,000 and US$11,000 in cash.
The office equipment is insured for the sum of $90,000. The house was
occupied by his wife Virginia Rojas Nelder, 44, Canadian architect and
Kathryn Nelder, 19, Canadian student. All of their traveling documents
were destroyed. The lower flat of the building is concrete and housed the
1001 Gift Shop owned by Santos Acosta, 35, Belizean businessman of
Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro Town. The cost of damage caused to the gift
shop has not been ascertained. Nothing was insured. The house is owned by
Mr. Juan Alamilla, 62, tourist guide of Pescador Drive, San Pedro
Town. The house is valued at $200,000 and is insured with Atlantic
Insurance Company for the sum of $90,000. The house measured 30' x 45'.
The fire spread to a two flat wooden structure building about five feet
south of the above building. The upper flat of the building is owned by
Gonzalo Valdez, 51, fisherman of No. 9 Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro
Town. The house was completely destroyed by the fire. The estimated cost
of damage for both the building and household items is $75,000. The
building which measured 45' x 50' was not insured.
The lower flat of the wooden structure
building houses the Book Center Liquor Shop and the Ambergris Art
Gallery. The Book Center is owned by Mr. Leonel Reyes, 54, Belizean
teacher of Corners Dolphin and Laguna Streets, San Pedro Town. The
estimated cost of damage caused to the Book Center is $100,000. Nothing
was insured. The Art Gallery is owned by Mr. Marcus Larios, 30,
painter/artist of Buccaneer Street, San Pedro Town. The estimated
cost of damage caused to the Art Gallery is $3,340. Nothing was insured.
The pump on the fire truck was not functioning and as a result over 300
persons assisted by forming a water bucket brigade. At about 9:10 p.m. on
December 17th the fire
was extinguished. The cause of fire is not yet known however it is
suspected that it is due to electrical failure.
The San Pedro Sun
contacted San Pedro Fire Chief Dennis Plummer to comment about the
problems the fire engine pump experienced and this was what he had to
say. "The pump was in operation for about five minutes when the primer
failed. The firemen then improvised and went to get water from the
hydrant but unfortunately the truck was then having transmission
problems, leaking fluid heavily." Mr. Plummer continued by saying, "We
are extremely sorry for this unfortunate happening and we are looking at
all the resources to fix the problems with the fire truck. The primer has
already been fixed and the truck's transmission is being fixed as we
speak."
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