Fire Devastates Dangriga: Three Buildings Destroyed in Suspected Arson

Police in the culture capital are investigating an apparent case of arson that led to the destruction of three structures yesterday. Around 5 o’clock, flames broke out at a wooden structure on Commerce Street, Dangriga Town, and quickly engulfed the abandoned building. Firefighters were called and responded, however, the fire fanned out and spread to two nearby structures. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the buildings were reduced to ash and rubble by the time the flames were doused. This morning, Stann Creek Correspondent Harry Arzu spoke to Lisa Cheng, the property owner’s niece. 

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “When we came outside we noticed there was smoke emitting from the big building on the second floor. I notified Ms.Miriam who has a food business right in front and she said let’s call the fire department to be sure. This is something that happens every couple weeks we notice homeless people coming in there, it is abandoned, no-one lives there. Homeless people come in there, live there and they would I don’t know what they do but sometimes they burn the trash, somethings make themselves comfortable and we noticed the fire, we called the fire department around 5:35 and by six o’clock the entire building was out of control. We noticed there were two fire engines that came, we’re grateful that they came as quickly as they can. It was really out of control. Grateful that the fire hydrant was right next door and then the building started breaking down slowly. We noticed that there wasn’t any wind so it kinda helped a lot and the wires started popping because they were lighting up the electrical poles. BEL assisted greatly with disconnecting electricity and we started helping Ms.Miriam move out of her stuff out of her food shop. Fortunately nothing was damaged for her and we’re happy for the community to help at that moment to help move to every single thing there.”

Reporter: Alright so this building had a business in it? There was a business ?

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “It was only the last part. Everything else was abandoned.”

Reporter: What kind of business was in there.

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “It was Ms. Miriam’s food stall so she sells burritos, panades, all of that.”

Cheng noted that the building has been there for over a hundred and twenty years and has seen numerous businesses open and close at that location.

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “The structure was mainly wood. It was a building that has been here for over 125 years. It does have a lot of history. It was once owned by the Bowmans and then the Late James Chi bought it over. It was also part of Austin High, part of Lodge so everyone in the community does have memories of this building.”

Reporter: And it was a store. 

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “It was a store in the front. My dad when he came here to Belize so many years ago he had a store in the front, it had a business in the front as well, it even had a bar once so it has a lot of history. It was abandoned. No-one died in the fire like what the media reported so we’re grateful for that. It was abandoned, like I said it was probably only the homeless people that usually comes in and we tried to move the people as much as we can, we tried we were taking it down slowly little by little but it is a huge building sitting on a piece of land almost half a block.”

Reporter: Was it a two story? 

Lisa Cheng, Niece of Property Owner: “It’s a three story building actually.”

The fire department is yet to confirm the cause of the fire.