MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - Investigators are trying to find the cause of a two-alarm fire that destroyed a Miami Gardens home.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene near Northwest 193rd Street and First Avenue at around 7 p.m., Monday.
Officials said the home appears to be a total loss.
“Things just started jumping, and I just saw flames and sparks and stuff,” said Earl Washington, a neighbor of the victim.
“It was pretty scary. It just went up and then the power lines went to sparking, and everybody had to run this way,” said Desmond Isaacs, a neighbor of the victim.
The sight of the bellowing smoke frightened neighbors.
“A little bit but more about Rudy,” said Washington. “Life is more important. That was number one.”
Rudy Watt lived in the house for 25 years. Watt was not home at the time of the fire, but Jacomo was, and he managed to escape the home on his own.
“I got a phone call that the house was on fire,” said Watt. “He took off and went running, so he was scared, and I found him a couple blocks over.”
Watt is trying to figure out what happens now.
“That can be rebuilt. A life can’t be regained,” said Watt. “We just gotta do what we need to.”
Firefighters were eventually able to put out the fire.
Investigators from M-DFR and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have not yet pinpointed the cause of the fire, but they did not find anything suspicious.
Authorities have not addressed why the ATF was brought in to investigate.
Fortunately, Watt has many neighbors who have offered him a place to stay for the night.
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