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Two children are listed as critical in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital tonight after they were injured in a house fire last night. It occurred in the western village of Georgeville. That is where 14 year old Bridget Martinez was left home alone with her 3 year old and 5 month old sisters. Her mom Audrey Martinez says that around 8:30 she went to her cousin’s house next door. She says that in a split second after that, the fire started. That is when she ran over but by then the fire had already engulfed the home. Her daughters were injured and in addition - Audrey Martinez and her 10 children are homeless and have lost everything.

Audrey Martinez, Mother of Burn Victim
“Just took a walk to my auntie house, we were sitting down and discussing my next cousin who is in the hospital here and when my auntie daughter called and told us that the house is on fire. When we went down the step and reached into the yard where I live, the flames had just destroyed everything one lik.

The baby got burnt in whole of her face and the two hands and her shoulders. The 14 year old got the same kind of burn. The next little girl is three year old but she didn’t get any kind of burn. Three of them were in the bed but she didn’t get any kind of burn.”

Keith Swift,
“Have you been able to find out what happened?”

Audrey Martinez,
“The 14 year old, she was in the room but she is in shock so I haven’t asked or questioned her about what happened. I can’t say what happened because I wasn’t home so…..”

Keith Swift,
“We understand that it might have been electrical. Do you think that is possible?”

Audrey Martinez,
“It could be but I don’t want to say it is that and I don’t know what happened.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you believe your daughter was trying to rescue the 5 month old daughter and that is how she got burnt?”

Audrey Martinez,
“Three of them were on the bed and two were on one side and the next one were the other way. So the two that were on that side got burnt bad more than the next little girl because she didn’t get burnt none at all so maybe the fire started from where she was laying down, she and the baby.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you think that maybe if you were home this would have been avoided?”

Audrey Martinez,
“If I mi deh home or not, maybe it would have been the same because if it was an electrical thing it would have happened the same way.”

Keith Swift,
“What are the doctors telling you?”

Audrey Martinez,
“Well they just told me they get serious burns and the 14 year old is on medication and they are waiting to run a next test on the baby to see if he got badly burnt in her chest or all over.”

Keith Swift,
“So everything in the house was destroyed and so you need.”

Audrey Martinez,
“Well I am just asking anybody out there to do assistance and help if they could in anything they have to give, in clothing and whatever materials.”

The family needs help and anyone able to assist can contact Audrey Martinez at 620-1609. She also needs help in locating the father of her children Alford Castillo. He is reported to be somewhere in Belize City.