Several South Florida families are looking for a place to call home after a fire ripped through a building in North Miami.
“It sucks. I mean, everything I own was inside,” said Gabrielle Colon, a displaced resident.
Thick, black smoke billowed from a North Miami apartment complex around noon Sunday. Colon said she had just enough time to grab her cat and run out.
“I was just laying in the living room and in the unit next door, I heard a lot of screaming and yelling and then they started banging on my door for me to get out,” said Colon.
According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, 10 apartments were affected, however, everyone inside managed to evacuate uninjured.
"A lot of times, fires like this can destroy an entire building," said Lt. Gerard Forrester of Miami-Dade Fire.
“The first officer arrived on scene to find fire through the roof and a serious fire condition. He rapidly called for additional resources to handle the situation,” said Battalion Chief Danny Cardeso of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
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The fire was so intense; it took about 58 firefighters to bring it under control. The summer heat also posed a challenge for the firefighters.
“July in Miami is no joke and we also have to deal with the heat like everyone else. The gear that we wear is heavy. It doesn’t let our bodies breathe, so we have to take extra precautions and limit the amount of time we can work in the gear before we cycle personnel through rehab,” said Cardeso.
Residents told investigators they heard a popping noise in the bedroom and then spotted a fire next to a portable fan.
While investigators looked into the cause of fire, the Red Cross assisted displaced residents who hope to find a place to stay.
“I was shaking. I’m actually still shaking now because everything is just a shocker,” said Soline Lamarre, a displaced resident.
“I’m lucky I’m alive. My cat’s alive. My roommates weren’t there. All the families are okay. That’s all that matters. It just sucks,” said Colon.
