MIAMI (WSVN) - A family of six has been displaced after a fire ripped through the kitchen of their apartment in Miami.
City of Miami Fire Rescue crews said they received reports of a building on fire along the 2400 block of Northwest 26th Street, just before 6:45 a.m., Friday.
When they arrived at the scene, there was smoke coming from the second floor of the building.
All family members, including children between the ages of 1 and 13, evacuated safely.
Overcome with emotion, Jessica Puerto said her Bibles were spared from the flames.
“My four Bibles are here with me. I thank you, God, for that,” she said through a translator. “Everything else caught fire, as you can see.”
Puerto described the moments after her apartment caught fire. She said she grabbed her children and ran out.
Officials said the fire started on the stove and spread from there.
“They were home at the time this morning, cooking, getting ready for their day,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez. “I believe a pot exploded, something occurred that caused the fire to break out.”
“She tried to stop it by throwing some water on it, but it was just too fast,” said Puerto’s relative Jennifer Torres. “There was, like, oil in the area, so it spread even more.”
A neighbor was also rescued from his balcony, as he tried to escape the fire.
“Our crews immediately extended a ladder, made their way up to the second floor, rescued this victim and made sure that there was no one else inside the apartment,” said Sanchez.
The fire has been deemed accidental, as it stemmed from Puerto cooking.
The apartment’s kitchen was completely charred.
Torres said she’s glad her family made it out safely.
“Like, if they were to find out too late, it would’ve been too late to get them out because it was only one exit in this apartment,” she said. “I’m just glad and blessed that they’re OK.”
Crews prevented the flames from spreading further and were able to extinguish the fire quickly.
No one was hurt.
The American Red Cross is now helping the displaced family and offering them financial assistance as they look for a new place to lie.
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