SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A family of five has been displaced after a fire broke out at their Southwest Miami-Dade home.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to reports of a fire near Southwest 109th Street at around 11 p.m., Monday.
Two of the people inside the home at the time of the fire said they were getting ready to watch movies when they saw smoke on their surveillance cameras.
“Everyone was like, ‘We gotta get out! We gotta get out!’ because we thought things were going to start blowing up,” said victim Gladys Bounassar. “We came out, and the kids came out and said something’s burning [but] no one knew what it was. We opened the garage door, and when we opened the door, the flames just came in, really. We smelled burnt rubber and it was a fire. A major fire.”
The family returned to the home on Tuesday morning to see what they could salvage from the burnt unit.
“The house is complete destruction,” said Bounassar. “There’s nothing to be saved. My brother-in-law is a firefighter, and I’m telling him, ‘Can I just clean this with soap and water?’ and he said, ‘No.'”
“Everything’s just gone, and it sucks,” said one resident as she held back her tears.
The home suffered significant damage, which appeared to be focused in the garage.
Three of four cars that were parked in the home’s driveway were damaged beyond repair.
Cellphone video recorded by a neighbor showed bright flames coming out of the home.
“The only thing I see was a big a fire that covered all of the house, most of the right of the house,” a neighbor said. “I think the fire coming out from inside the garage. Something from inside the garage exploded. They are fine. All of the family are fine and two dogs.”
American Red Cross volunteers reached out to the family virtually to help provide them with comfort kits and any other aid they can supply.
“Because of coronavirus, now we’re doing everything virtually,” said Deborah Koch, executive director of American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys. “We’re able to either call or video chat with the family, and make sure that they are getting the resources they need.”
Koch said, with more people at home due to the pandemic, they have seen an increase in fires across Miami-Dade County.
“We’re promoting home fire safety,” she said. “We’re encouraging everyone to check their emergency kits, and make sure that the entire family knows what the disaster plan is, and to be prepared in case, God forbid, the worst happens.”
Restrictions put in place amid the coronavirus made it difficult for the family to find a place to stay the night of the fire. Fortunately, family members in the area were able to accommodate them.
Firefighters said they were able to contain the blaze in 30 minutes, but the damage had already been done.
No injuries were reported.
“We have our family, that’s the most important thing,” said Bounassar.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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