MIRAMAR, FLA. (WSVN) - A home in Miramar was charred after a fire broke out overnight, forcing a family to evacuate.

The home, located in the area of Southwest 68th Avenue and 33rd Street, erupted into flames just before 3 a.m. on Thursday.

People who were sleeping inside the home described what happened. Seventy-one-year-old Derrick Howe said he was grateful to be alive.

“I woke up, and when I woke up, all I saw was that big fire outside. I thought it was an officer outside, so when I jumped to open the door, the door couldn’t open, and that big blazing fire was coming right through,” said Howe.

He said God woke him up in the nick of time, alerting him to the flames he saw outside of his window. The first thing he did was rush to wake up his roommates.

“All I did was get Mr. James, pulled him out and called this guy and said, ‘Let’s go,'” said Howe. “The house was on fire, and all I gotta do is try to get the older man out there to save his life and thank the Lord that I saved him.”

After they made their escape, the pair stood by and watched on in horror as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

“I smelled it, and when I smelled it, I said, ‘Something is burning,’ and I came, and I looked right through the house. Nothing inside,” said another resident.

Surveillance video showed the moment danger sparked.

“I saw a notification on my camera, and I am thinking like, ‘That camera shouldn’t be going off because that room is locked.’ So I played it, and you could see the smoke and the fire just starting in the video, so I called 911 automatically,” said Nikki Fletch, the homeowner’s niece.

Fletch said the home was part of their family history for nearly five decades.

“Our whole life in is in there, in that house, and now it’s all gone in less than an hour,” she said.

Emergency crews responded to the call as smoke billowed into the air.

They battled the blaze and doused the fire, even trying to vent the thick smoke rising from the roof.

Crews on the scene said the fire spread from the home to the nearby vehicles parked outside.

Firefighters eventually extinguished the flames, leaving behind the wet charred remains of what was once a house.

About an hour later, Howe and his family entered to sift through the charred remains.

Despite losing everything, Fletch said she’s just glad everyone was able to get out unharmed.

‘I’m just glad everybody’s all right. That’s all you can really ask for. Material stuff, you can replace it,” she said.

Now, the family said they’ll work to salvage what’s left but are grateful to have one another.

The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross are assisting the displaced residents.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family. If you would like to donate, click here.

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