Tonight, the Fire Department is no closer to determining the cause of the fire that claimed a Belize City landmark, the Chateau Caribbean. Fire Chief Ted Smith told us this evening that they still don't know the cause, but that the investigators worked at the scene looking for clues.
As we reported, on Sunday morning at around 8:00, a fire started at the back of the building, reportedly in the kitchen. At the time about 8 persons were in the building, and police had to get out one last man who was packing up - even as the building was filling up with smoke. Staff and two sets of guests escaped unharmed, and the only injury was to a fireman who cut his arm.
It is a total loss for the longtime owner, Mr. Lo, who has declined comment. He lived at the hotel and lost all his personal possessions and his business.
The elegant, colonial style sea front building was first erected in 1927 as the Biddle home. It later became Belize's first private hospital, and then a hotel and restaurant.
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