NORTH MIAMI, FLA. (WSVN) - Fire crews put out a fire that burned through an apartment building in North Miami after one hour of work.
All 18 units of the apartment complex were rendered uninhabitable due to the fire.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the 11600 block of Northeast 18th Drive on Friday evening.
7News cameras captured firefighters battling the flames that were billowing from the roof. Crews had to tear open parts of the roof to vent the fire.
“It was a big blaze, as soon as I open my side door, I see that the front door just fell off the hinges due to the blazes.” said Leslie Lagrandeur, an eight-year resident of the complex.
Lagrandeur captured the blaze through cell phone video, with the fire erupting in the apartment across from his. Lagrandeur called 911 and reported the fire, and made sure to assist people in the process.
“Went door to door knocking on everybody’s door to make sure everybody comes outside.” he said.
Extra fire crews were called in to help put out the fire.
The blaze forced several residents to evacuate the building. Residents stood across their homes as they watched firefighters try to contain the flames.
Some residents were very emotional as they watched their homes erupt in flames.
Area resident Julie Avalos said she ran out of her apartment as fast as she could when the fire started.
“From corner of the building caught fire and then within under two minutes, the whole building was under smoke. We don’t know where it started but it spread really quickly,” she said. “My uncle managed to go back for our cat, and a neighbor went back for their dog, because they were still inside, and luckily we have our cat, and our neighbor has their dog.”
In the aftermath, the owner of the complex, Guy Lorenzo, shared his reaction to the fire, as he dealt with what remains of his property.
“The fire came from that apartment there. The door got busted quick, and then the whole inside is burned.” said Lorenzo. “You keep coming back, you know, and then they had to keep going up there, and they keep more water, more water, more water until they can put down the fire.”
However, the damage from the fire will remain, and residents are grateful to be alive.
“There’s nobody injured, nobody, no deaths, no nothing like that, so, that’s all that matters at that point.” said Lagrandeur. “Everybody gets to enjoy the holidays.”
Officials say no injuries were reported from the fire, and investigators are searching into how the fire began. The Red Cross has assisted the families affected by the incident.
Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.
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