A large fire that started Thursday in a warehouse in northwest Miami-Dade remains active this Saturday as firefighters attempt a controlled demolition of the building to reach the deeper areas of the flames.
In a midday update this Saturday, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units reported that they are still at the scene of the fire in the 20600 block of Northwest 47th Avenue in Miami Gardens.
"Currently, firefighting efforts remain contained within the building. The MDFR is working with local, state, and federal partners to manage the incident and continue monitoring air quality. A controlled demolition plan has been established to access the deeper areas of the fire," the statement notes.
According to the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), units responded to the emergency around 10:45 a.m. on Thursday at a warehouse located in the 20600 block of NW 47 Avenue.
The fire was classified as afive-alarm fire, the highest level in this type of emergency, which necessitated the mobilization of additional units to combat the blaze.
More than 48 fire units participated in the operations on Thursday and Friday, with additional support from equipment from the Miramar Fire Department.
So far, no injuries have been reported, but the thick smoke affected air quality in the county, and on Friday, a burning smell was noticeable in nearby areas such as Miami Gardens, Miramar, and Hialeah Gardens.
In response to the situation, the authorities issued a public safety alert to the cell phones of residents in Miami-Dade and south Broward, recommending that they stay indoors, close doors and windows, and set ventilation systems to recirculation mode.
The fire has also caused significant material losses. Several food trucks were parked near the site.
Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the fire while firefighters work to fully extinguish the blaze.
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