Photo: William Neal, owner of Vista del Mar home

by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 19, 2023

Two fires, one in Belize City and the other in Vista del Mar, Ladyville, left properties destroyed over the weekend.

William Neal, a well-known former television talk show host and journalist, suffered significant loss when his home in Vista del Mar was destroyed by fire.

According to initial reports, Neal left his residence around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. By 10:15 a.m. the following day, smoke was spotted coming from the roof of his house.

Marlene Walter, a neighbor, immediately alerted Neal and called the police for assistance. Neal was not at home when the incident occurred.

Firefighters promptly responded and managed to extinguish the blaze. However, the entire contents of Neal’s house were destroyed, with the total value of the damage still being determined.

The incident has been a significant blow to Neal, who is also grieving the loss of his mother who passed away on Friday, June 16.

Meanwhile, a separate fire broke out in Belize City early Sunday morning, at a house located at the corner of Regent Street and South Street.

The property, according to police, was abandoned and there had been plans for it to undergo renovations prior to the incident.

“Police visited the area where they saw a 40×40 wooden building engulfed in flames. Information is that a male person was seen entering the building and thereafter, a fire was seen coming from the building,” ACP Hilberto Romero told reporters. “We are seeking one suspect in regard to this report,” he said.

No injuries or loss of life were reported.

However, the flames caused substantial damage to nearby buildings/property, including the Salvation Army building and the Ministry of Tourism’s building and vehicles.

Investigations into the causes of both fires are currently underway. The media has requested an interview with the National Fire Service, but up to press time have not received a response.