NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Multiple fire rescue units responded to an apartment fire in North Miami Beach, Thursday morning.
It happened near Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 172nd street, where firefighters arrived to heavy flames and smoke, shortly after 4:30 a.m. “When I woke up, I thought it was a nightmare,” said neighbor Jonathan Bernal.
Bernal said his mother was at work during the fire, but their pet bird was not so lucky. “Pretty much by the time I got out of there, the whole house was covered by smoke,” said Bernal.
Residents of the quadplex were able to evacuate safely. “I wasn’t thinking about anything,” said neighbor Fanette Tehrane. “Just leave the apartment! All I took was my phone and my keys.”
“When I stand up, I see the fire and smoke,” said neighbor Alfred Carvet. “I called 911.”
Firefighters were able to get to the scene in five minutes and it took them about 20 minutes to extinguish the flames. “There was a lot of damage,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Paul Estobinan. “Not just to content, but to structure, so it was going for awhile.”
Officials said the flames did not spread to neighboring homes.
No injuries were reported. However, one firefighter was taken to the hospital after feeling ill.
The fire is now under investigation.
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