In that blaze, a pregnant woman, Jacqueline Arteaga, 23, lost her life

Fire officials have confirmed that the deadly blaze which took the life of a young mother as it gutted two large wooden structures and severely damaged three more in the Newtown Barracks area of Belize City on June 23 of this year was a case of arson.

The early morning fire which, according to the Fire Department, originated in the lower flat on the east lower section of Kimmie’s Bar, completely destroyed the bar and Business Computer Systems, which was located adjacent to Kimmie’s.

“The cause of the fire is incendiary and the information has been passed on to the police who are continuing their investigation into that fire”, said Orin Smith of the National Fire Service.

Jacqueline Arteaga, 23, a tenant who resided on the upper flat of Kimmie’s Bar, was tragically killed in that inferno as she attempted to escape the wild flames which uncontrollably free-burned for at least 2 hours before they were brought under control.

Arteaga, who was reportedly pregnant at the time, was the mother of three other children, ages 2, 4 and 6.