A preliminary report from the San Pedro Fire Department indicates that three structures were completely destroyed by fire in the Boca del Rio Area on Sunday evening, July 6, 2014. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and fortunately there were no serious injuries or fatalities reported.
The San Pedro Fire Department indicates that they received a call from the San Pedro Police Department at 8:43p.m. about the fire located lagoon-side a couple blocks west of the Oasis condominium complex just north of San Pedro Town in the Boca del Rio Area. Two fire fighters were dispatched to the scene where they found a two-story cement/wood building totally engulfed in flames and immediately started fighting the fire.
The officer in charge of the fire department arrived 15 minutes later with the second fire truck and connected to the open water source nearby. It took the department roughly an hour and 15 minutes to control and extinguish the fire. The firemen were assisted by locals who organized a bucket brigade.
The San Pedro Police Department indicates that a total of nine buildings were damaged by the fire; of that seven small woodden structures were destroyed, one was a concrete and wodden two storey building and one was a two story full concrete building. Three of those structures that were lost were all apartment rental buildings with one alone housing 5 families with a total of 24 people living in the complex. The other two apartments housed nine and 6 rooms respectively. It is estimated that the fire left over 40 people homeless. Some people have sought refuge with family members while others are taking shelter at the local primary school.
The only injuries reported after the fire was of a male sustaining a broken hand and that of a one month child receiving minor burns; both received medical treatment at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez Poly Clinic II. From initial investigations received from the residents in the immediate area, they indicated that smoke and fire was seen fron the concrete and wooden two storey building from where they believe the fire originated from.
The San Pedro Fire Department continues their investigation and Ambergris Today will have more information as to any aid and assistance that can be provided to the families as it becomes available. At the moment only the San Pedro Town Council is taking any types of donations towards for the families. You can contact Lorna Vasquez at the San Pedro Town Council at (501) 226-2198 or (501) 226-2788.
UPDATE: Official statement from the San Pedro Police Department is that 16 families (61 people) were affected by the fire.
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