In a devastating turn of events that has left a Belama resident with nothing, 5-year long homeowner Eugene Thompson has lost every possession he owned after an out-of-the-ordinary fire gutted his residence on a Tuesday afternoon in September 2026, just 24 hours after a court ordered him to vacate the property amid a bitter domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend.
Thompson, who is now completely unhoused with no secure place to sleep or store personal belongings, has publicly stated he believes the blaze was deliberately set, not an accidental incident. The ongoing legal conflict over the property began when Thompson initially sought a court order to evict his ex-girlfriend from the home. In a surprise turn, she countersued through the local court system, and judges ultimately ruled in her favor, ordering Thompson to leave the residence for a 15-day period.
Thompson shared that he attempted to plead his case to the court, explaining he faced extreme hardship and had no alternative housing options, but his claims of distress were dismissed. “The court didn’t believe me, she had the ruling go her way,” Thompson explained. “They served me an eviction notice, I complied, and by 1 p.m. that same afternoon I was out, and my entire home was burned to the ground.”
A neighbor was the first to spot the fire and alerted Thompson, who was not on the property when the blaze broke out. By the time emergency response arrived, the structure was already completely destroyed. Thompson confirmed that not a single one of his personal belongings was salvaged from the wreckage. “Nothing was saved, nothing at all,” he said. “By the time my neighbor called out to alert me, the fire had already taken over the whole house.”
Thompson estimates the total value of his lost property and structural damage at approximately $45,000, a devastating loss that leaves him forced to rebuild his entire life from scratch. With no bedding, clothing, or personal items to his name, and nowhere permanent to stay, Thompson is now reaching out to the broader community for any assistance that can be offered. Individuals who are able to provide support can contact Thompson directly at 639-6773. “I just need help right now,” Thompson said. “I have nowhere to live, nowhere to sleep, nothing saved. I lost everything.”