A large fire partially destroyed a three-story residential building in Lil Havana in Miami this Wednesday, forcing more than 20 residents to evacuate their homes without the ability to return that night.
According to Telemundo 51, the fire was reported at around 3:25 PM at 2110 West Flagler Street, in the heart of Miami's historic Cuban neighborhood.
The authorities declared the structure unsafe following the post-incident inspection.
How did the fire develop?
When the first units of Miami Fire-Rescue arrived at the scene, they found dense smoke coming from hidden spaces beneath the structure.
The lieutenant Pete Sanchez, spokesperson at the scene, described what they found upon arrival: "We arrived at the location and found a three-story residential building with thick smoke coming from the areas beneath the building."
The wooden construction aggravated the situation from the outset.
“It is a wooden structure, so there are many open spaces under the floor and in the walls, where, apparently, the fire began to spread,” explained Sanchez, according to WSVN 7News.
The incident was initially declared Code 1, and shortly after, a second alarm was requested to add resources.
In total, around 60 firefighters worked to control the flames, which spread through hidden spaces, walls, and the attic.
To locate the hotspots that were not visible to the naked eye, the teams turned to specialized technology.
“We had the drone in operation and thermal cameras to ensure we found the hot spots,” noted Sanchez.
The fire was brought under control in less than an hour.
The incident could have resulted in a greater tragedy: the flames came dangerously close to the building's gas lines, though they were extinguished in time to prevent a possible explosion.
The evacuation and the testimony of the residents
The building has 18 residential units, 16 of which were occupied at the time of the fire.
All residents and their pets were located and accounted for, with no injuries reported.
The evacuation was successfully completed, partly due to the solidarity among neighbors. Connie Fernandez, a resident of the building, recounted how she detected the danger while on a video call:
"I was in my apartment on FaceTime with someone, and I realized that I could almost taste the smoke while I was talking, so I said 'wait' and looked up, and my whole room was filled with smoke. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew I had to get out."
Fernandez also described how his neighbors alerted everyone in the building: "They started banging on all the apartment doors, and I knew we had to leave, that something was very wrong."
Displaced residents after the fire
After the fire, the Unsafe Structures Unit of the Miami Building Department inspected the property and determined that it was not safe, which prevented the residents from returning that night.
Miami Fire-Rescue brought a bus to the scene to provide temporary shelter, air conditioning, and water to those displaced while assistance was being organized, something especially needed due to the heatwave affecting South Florida.
The American Red Cross also arrived at the scene and coordinated with the City of Miami Department of Human Services to provide accommodations in a hotel in Miami Springs for those in need of shelter.
Despite the assistance received, the distress of those affected was evident. "I need a place to live because the building is uninhabitable. I need a place to live," expressed Fernandez.
The Miami Fire-Rescue Investigations Unit continues to work to determine the origin and cause of the incident. The investigation remains open.
Related videos:
Filed under: