MIAMI (WSVN) - Crews extinguished a fire at a restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, officials said.
Sixteen City of Miami Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the La Esquina De La Fama restaurant at 1388 SW Eighth Street around 4:30 p.m., Monday.
“This has been a family business for 14 years,” said the owner of La Esquina De La Fama Miky Chevalier. “People come from all around the world to enjoy what we got here with live music and everything.”
7News cameras captured firefighters going in and out of the building with hoses in an effort to control the flames on Monday afternoon.
There were no customers inside at the time of the fire, but there were a dozen employees.
Employee Alejandra Ruiz told 7News, “All we had time to do was grab our things and call 911, we really don’t know what happened. It was so sudden.”
Video from Miami Fire Rescue captured heavy black smoke coming from the front and rear of the restaurant.
“When we arrived, we had to extinguish the fire through the rear and make entry through the front, but we also used ladders to the roof because the fire had made it to the roof, which means that it vented through,” said MFR Lt. Pete Sanchez.
MFR said the fire is under control and everyone got out safely with no injuries.
“When the fire broke out, the employees were inside. The business had been open since 8 in the morning. They had a shift change, but luckily they all made it out. They made calls to 911,” said Sanchez.
Chevalier said he has a big clean up on his hands.
“I’m so sorry, not only for me, for my family because that’s where I support my family but also for my employees,” said Chevalier. “It’s almost all destroyed, it’s a lot of smoke, it’s a big, big fire. It’s a big fire. I lost many, many, many, many things.”
While multiple agencies investigate the blaze, Chevalier has made a vow.
“I promise that I’m gonna {open} again La Esquina De La Fama, I will do it again,” said Chevalier.
Firefighters believe this may have started in an office but it’s still under investigation.
No injuries have been reported.
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