NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - What started as burning two mobile homes in Northwest Miami-Dade grew into a massive fire when, officials said, the flames spread to at least two other nearby units.
Alvin Henriquez said he lives right behind the homes that caught fire. When he heard the noise, he went outside, and police told him he needed to evacuate immediately.
He said he didn’t have time to grab anything. What he’s wearing is all he has.
“Nothing, nothing,” said Henriquez in Spanish.
The plume of smoke could be seen for miles, filling up the sky.
Firefighters were seen entering and exiting units and searching for people or animals inside.
Sparking power lines above the mobile homes created an even more hazardous situation as crews worked to contain the blaze.
“The power lines were caught as well, which posed an extra level of concern for us,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Division Chef Michael Eng.
The crackling of the power lines could be seen in aerial footage.
The closely compacted lot made it especially harder for crews to maneuver and get their trucks and heavy equipment inside the area to begin their defensive attack to knock the fire down.
“One of the initial challenges that we faced coming with any type of structure like this is the congestion and the tight quarters of getting in here,” said Eng. “A lot of the apartments are tightly packed together; there’s a lot of debris and material as well.”
Officials said strong winds also made it difficult for crews to knock down the fire.
“We had an extremely windy morning, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which added another level of challenge.” said Eng.
Trailers are often made of extremely flammable materials, like plastic and fiberglass, causing them to burn ferociously whenever they catch fire.
Onlookers were visibly distraught as the flames continued to burn, damaging many of their homes.
This is the second fire to rip through this community. Back in August, an elderly woman and a man were killed.
Henriquez said that though the fire is just a coincidence, it is still deeply painful for this tight community.
Residents said this fire couldn’t come at a worse time, as Christmas is just two weeks away. They watched in horror as all of their belongings turned to ash.
“We lost everything,” said Milena Luna in Spanish.
Luna said she was lucky to be alive.
“He went to get coffee for us, so I woke up, and I thought it was raining, so I went outside and saw the fire,” she said.
She added that her husband saved her life.
“It’s OK, because she didn’t get hurt. If she got hurt, I would be devastated,” said the woman’s husband. “There’s nothing. Only ashes left. We need help.”
Although there were no injuries, for Eng, the timing has been difficult as well.
“It’s been especially difficult. These types of incidents are really difficult for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel in light of the holidays,” said Eng. “Despite that, we successfully extinguished the fire and saved the surrounding apartments. It’s not lost on us that several families have lost their homes and livelihoods this morning.”
After fighting the blaze for several hours, officials confirmed that it was completely under control but were still monitoring hotspots.
Loved ones were seen waiting anxiously and found comfort in each other’s embrace as they grappled with their new reality.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined by officials.
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