Fast moving flames claimed the lives of two people and forced residents out of an apartment building early Thursday morning.
The blaze broke out just before 1 a.m. at the St. George apartment building on Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find thick smoke and one person dead inside the building.
Rescue crews rushed another victim to Ryder Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead. “Unfortunately, they did find a dead victim inside the apartment and a second victim that they attempted to save, brought to the hospital and was pronounced dead at the hospital,” said Miami Beach Fire Rescue Chief Javier Otero.
A witness said the second victim became trapped while trying to save his dogs from the fire. However, the dogs did not make it out alive. “The apartment was getting on fire. They told the victim, ‘Come outside, there’s a fire,'” said Julieta Vega, whose father-in-law resides in the building. “He didn’t come out because of the dog.”
Bryan Coronel tried to save an elderly woman who was also trapped in the building. “He passed the apartment where the fire was, and you could smell the smoke was coming through the door,” he said. “We kicked the door open, and he was going to go in there to see if the old lady that lives there was in there, but she wasn’t there.”
Mark Sada drove six hours from Jacksonville, Florida after learning his mom did not survive the fire. “She was a good mother. A perfect grandmother. She loved everyone. She got along with everyone. She was a beautiful lady,” said Sada.
Coronel said, “My stepdad was screaming at him to come out, but I guess he didn’t have time, and they just finished putting him inside the emergency.”
Two firefighters were treated for exhaustion. “There were two firefighters who were treated on scene, and one was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center,” said a fire official.
The Red Cross is now assisting the displaced residents.
Fast moving flames claimed the lives of two people and forced residents out of an apartment building early Thursday morning.
The blaze broke out just before 1 a.m. at the St. George apartment building on Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find thick smoke and one person dead inside the building.
Rescue crews rushed another victim to Ryder Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead. “Unfortunately, they did find a dead victim inside the apartment and a second victim that they attempted to save, brought to the hospital and was pronounced dead at the hospital,” said Miami Beach Fire Rescue Chief Javier Otero.
A witness said the second victim became trapped while trying to save his dogs from the fire. However, the dogs did not make it out alive. “The apartment was getting on fire. They told the victim, ‘Come outside, there’s a fire,'” said Julieta Vega, whose father-in-law resides in the building. “He didn’t come out because of the dog.”
Bryan Coronel tried to save an elderly woman who was also trapped in the building. “He passed the apartment where the fire was, and you could smell the smoke was coming through the door,” he said. “We kicked the door open, and he was going to go in there to see if the old lady that lives there was in there, but she wasn’t there.”
Coronel said, “My stepdad was screaming at him to come out, but I guess he didn’t have time, and they just finished putting him inside the emergency.”
Two firefighters were treated for exhaustion. “There were two firefighters who were treated on scene, and one was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center,” said a fire official.
The Red Cross is now assisting the displaced residents.