MIAMI (WSVN) - Two families were burned out of their home after a fire that broke out inside a duplex in Miami sent one person to the hospital and claimed the life of a pet.
City of Miami Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the blaze at 3448 SW 15th St., at around 2:30 a.m., Friday.
Crews were met with the two-story residential duplex engulfed in heavy smoke and flames.
“Delta response, house fire occupied 3448 SW 15th Street,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify police scanner.
Cellphone video captured smoke and flames billowing out of a second-story window.
Firefighters extended hose lines into the building to maintain and extinguish the flames.
Within minutes, the fire was extinguished, but responders discovered the lifeless body of a dog, a small pit mix, within the residence.
“All the residents were vacated by the time we arrived, and the fire was under control within about five minutes,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez.
Paramedics on the scene assessed two adult residents for injuries suffered during the ordeal.
One of the occupants, man, suffered burns to the arms and face as he attempted to rescue the dog. He was transported to Ryder Trauma Center for treatment.
According to officials, a family of four lived in the top unit where most of the damages were sustained.
The victim’s cousin said he is doing better.
“He has burns, not too bad on his face,” the victim’s cousin said in Spanish, “but he warned us about the fire. It all happened so fast.”
“He’s in stable condition with several burns,” said Sanchez.
As the sun came up, the devastation inside became even more clear.
“So bad, very bad, the whole thing exploded,” the victim’s cousin said. “The ceiling exploded. The ceiling came down.”
Friday afternoon, 7News cameras captured smoke damage on the second-story window.
The family’s living room is now buried in insulation and where they once laid their heads at night to rest is now piled in debris.
Their belongings were all burned and destroyed.
“Material things can be recuperated, but not life,” said the victim’s cousin. “You only have one life.”
The family who live on the second floor is staying with a friend. The residents who live in the bottom unit were taken in by relatives.
The cause and origin of the fire remain unknown at this time.
The Miami Fire Investigation Unit has been called in to conduct a thorough investigation to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this destructive incident.
The injured victim was released from the hospital on Friday night.
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