by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 19, 2022
A house fire in Belize City claimed the life of an elderly woman, 83-year-old Elita Elswith Coleman, of Rasta Street, in the early hours of Sunday, December 18.
According to initial police reports, at about 12:20 a.m. the neighbors of Coleman alerted the police that smoke could be seen coming out of her home, and when the officers arrived at the scene, they saw Coleman’s 26 foot-by-30-foot cement house engulfed in flames. Police made several attempts to gain entry into the house, but were not able to do so.
Belize National Fire Service personnel arrived at the scene shortly after, however, and were able to extinguish the fire. When police subsequently examined the burnt remains of the building, they discovered Coleman’s motionless, burnt body inside a room.
“We had two officers, [who] arrived at the scene and actually saw her in that house. I know it’s very traumatic for them, but as I said, it’s a very sad day for us. The details of the conversation were not sent to me, but I’m certain that they made every effort that they could have to try to get into that house,” said communications director for the Belize Police Department, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood.
The son of the victim Raymond Pitterson told local media that when police arrived on the scene they contacted the fire department but made no attempts to enter the burning building. The victim, Coleman, reportedly clinged on to a burglar bar, crying for help, but no one assisted her, recounts her son. He claimed when the fire department arrived on the scene they did not have any water in the trucks.
ASP Yearwood told local reporters that the officers who attempted to rescue Coleman from the fire will be receiving counseling.
“An experience like that is not something you get over within a few hours, so they will be doing the counseling and going through that mandatory leave process,” he said.
The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical failure, the family of the victim says, but not a faulty washing machine as was initially reported by police.
ASP Yearwood also noted that Coleman resided at her residence alone. Her body was taken to the morgue of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police are investigating.