The fire started between 12:30 and 12:40 this afternoon at the end of Park Street near the seaside in the split areas in Caye Caulker Village. Sergeant Leslie Wade is the Head of the Caye Caulker Police Department and explains more.

Sergeant Leslie Wade; Head, Caye Caulker Police Department

"Shortly after 12:35 this afternoon we received word of a fire along the lagoon side next to the Smith's residence and as a result we responded along with the Fire Department. On our arrival there we observed a small wooden structure engulfed in flames and also another wooden structure which is off the ground also on fire. With the assistance of the fire Department, the community at large and tourists we managed to get the fire under control. At present the police are investigating, we have two people at the police station for questioning."

Jorge Aldana, Reporter

Sergeant I understand that just before the fire there was an argument. Two children were locked inside a building and were later rescued by some residents.

Sergeant Leslie Wade; Head, Caye Caulker Police Department

"I will not comment on that part. We are investigating the matter and as soon as we conclude our investigations that information will be made known."

At least ten people are homeless. Frand Renolds occupied one of the buildings along with his family and spoke to Love News following the fire.

Frank Renolds; Fire Victim

"We were getting ready to go fishing. We left the house but we smelt smoke so we checked to see if there was anything that had been lit in the yard; there was nothing lit. We made our way to the pear and when we got to the boat my common-law-wife who also lives with me with the three month old son and my two daughters, one four and the other seven, they started to yell for me. When we went back we saw the house on fire from the south side and so we tired to take the children out of the house. At this point we realized that there were two children next door, they were screaming for help so we went to help them and tried to let them out because the door was locked. We shook the lock twice and the door was open. We lost everything, the whole family lost everything. The family in the back also lost everything because I understand that the father went to pick up his other child from school."

The fathers name is Silveno Rosado and he and his family is also left homeless. The other unoccupied building was owned by Henny Agilar and used as a motel. Fire officials declined an interview as the matter is still under investigation but according to residents the pump fell into the water causing a delay in the fire fighting. No one was hurt in the fire. None of the buildings were insured. The total estimated loss is over $200 thousand Belize dollars.