SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A house caught fire in Southwest Miami-Dade late Sunday night, sending one person to the hospital and injuring two firefighters.
The blaze was reported as a first-alarm fire around 10:30 p.m. at a residence near Southwest 34th Street and 96th Court. Officials said the flames started in the backyard patio and extended into the home. Cellphone footage captured flames shooting out of the back of the house, which acts as a living space for another tenant, known as an efficiency.
A woman who lives in the rear of the house said the flames went out of control while she did her laundry. When 7News interviewed her, she did not want to show her face on camera but appeared to have soot covering her hands.
“My son arrived and saved my life by risking his,” the woman said in Spanish.
She said her son was transported to the hospital where he now has to get surgery on his legs. Sadly, her cat lost its life due to the fire.
A few neighbors like Joseph Spada and his wife live across the street from the duplex mistook the popping sound from the fire to be fireworks.
“My wife called 911, she was sitting there watching TV, and all of a sudden it started to popping,” he said. “So she thought it was fireworks because Fourth of July weekend.”
“I was sitting inside and I started hearing these popping noises and I was like ‘What the heck’s going on,” said Cherie Spada. “And so when I came and looked, unfortunately, I could see the whole back of the house — was the flame.”
Just before 10:30 p.m. Cherie peaked out of her window to see flames ripping through the home.
“I call 911. But then luckily, they said somebody had already called so they’re being dispatched, and within a minute or two, the trucks started arriving from everywhere,” she said. “And I just felt so bad for the poor family.”
Jahima is a neighbor and also heard a loud boom, which she mistook for fireworks. She, along with other neighbors, ran outside without shoes to wake up neighbors and make sure everyone was out before the fire could spread.
“Mainly, what caught my attention was seeing neighbors running towards this way [pointing to the house on fire] and that’s when I looked out my window and I saw the entire smoke,” said Mary Bagnara, a neighbor. “It’s just so devastating, you see it on the news but you never think it’s gonna happen to you, you know?”
“It was pure havoc,” said Joseph. “Actually, the whole block was full of fire trucks.”
“I’m very sad that this happened for them, it’s unfortunate and I’m really praying for them, I prayed last night for them,” said Bagnara.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighters worked through the night and managed to extinguish the fire. The aftermath revealed a charred front door and broken windows, which firefighters smashed to gain entry and combat the flames.
Significant damage was reported, affecting the family residing in the home. The renter said everything they owned is gone and all she has is the clothes on her back.
“Hopefully everybody is OK, everybody please send their prayers to them,” said Cherie.
MDFR reported two firefighters also sustained minor injuries as a result of the fire. The firefighters were transported to a local area hospital where they were treated and released.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Red Cross was requested to assist those affected by this fire. Code compliance surveyed the house and deemed it unsafe.
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