FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - An overnight fire at a rehab facility in Fort Lauderdale left more than 60 people displaced after the blaze demolished the building.
The flames erupted at TLC Recovery Center South, located at 465 SW 20th Ave., at around 2 a.m. on Monday.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue units arrived promptly and began their efforts to control the fire.
“Upon arrival, our crews saw heavy smoke and fire coming from a two-story treatment facility. There were approximately 60 people inside at the time of the fire,” said FLFR Chief Stephen Gollan. “Thankfully, we were able to evacuate all those people without injuries, and we were able to immediately go into fire attack mode, working to extinguish the fire.”
More than 51 responders joined the effort to put out the fire, which lasted just shy of an hour.
“Life safety is always our number one priority, and that’s what we immediately did, made sure that everyone was safe, bringing them out the structure, and immediately went to extinguish the building,” said Gollan.
Video footage showed the intensity of the fire as smoke and flames billowed from the building.
Fire rescue officials reported that the call came in as a two-alarm fire.
“We were sleeping at about 2:30 in the morning, and we heard a pounding on the front doors,” said Stacy, a neighbor in the area. “There was a fire next door, and the roofs are about to cave in, and you guys need to get out.”
The blaze was so intense that it spread to cars parked in the facility’s parking lot. Fire officials said they were able to contain the flames to one side of the U-shaped building.
“It was contained to the northern part of the building, and within about 40 minutes, we were able to get the fire under control,” said Gollan.
The displaced residents were moved to another property owned by the rehab facility.
“The heat was intense, and we were terrified our house was going to catch fire,” said Stacy.
Later on Monday, crews were seen sifting ash as they continued their investigation.
Meanwhile, neighbors were feeling thankful.
“Thank goodness they protected our house,” said Stacy. “Thank you, Fort Lauderdale Fire and Rescue.”
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
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