HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - Fire rescue crews battled a two-alarm fire that caused part of a building to collapse at a Hialeah strip mall.
Hialeah Fire Rescue units responded to the scene along the 1700 block of Palm Avenue at around 10:30 p.m., Thursday.
According to fire officials, firefighters made entry into the building but had to get out, and 55 firefighters battled the blaze defensively.
Fire officials said the fire began inside the Montes De Oca pizzeria and has since been contained.
“When our first arriving units got here, they did notice heavy flames, heavy smoke and then the building collapsed soon thereafter,” said Hialeah Fire Chief David Rodriguez. “At that point, the pizza place was gone.”
Witnesses in the area described what unfolded.
“At around 10:30, we heard an explosion and saw a big fire,” one man said. “Yes, yes, we heard an explosion. We were just standing nearby.”
Despite the fire being contained, firefighters continued to pour water into the structure because they feared that some hot spots could reignite the fire.
7News cameras captured heavy flames and smoke billowing from the structure.
No injuries were reported, and the pizzeria was empty at the time of the fire.
The pizzeria has been deemed a total loss, according to fire officials.
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