Miami

Miami Beach Family's Home Destroyed After Christmas Tree Catches Fire

Police, fire and city pitch in to give family clothes, toys and a new pet bird

A family was forced from their Miami Beach home after their Christmas tree caught fire and destroyed their apartment Friday morning.

The fire broke out around 8 a.m. at the home on Washington Avenue where a mother and her two children live.

"Everything was on fire, it's difficult to explain," Ericka Molina said. "But the fire was too much and I don't see anything, I can't take out my little bird and I don't have time for anything." 

Video from the scene showed Molina escaping the burning building as thick black smoke shoots out the door and neighbors run to help.

Molina said she was in her bathroom when she started to feel hot. She looked out the door and saw her Christmas tree in flames.

"I feel something hot, the odor smells like a fire and the Christmas tree was on fire," Molina said.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, which was nearly out of control.

"It was a matter of seconds, if not minutes it was going to leave the room of contact, it would have broken out of the windows," Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez said.

The tree had been put up more than a month ago and already had gifts under it, she said. The family's bird was also killed in the fire.

Later Friday, Miami Beach police, fire and city officials helped the family out with new clothes and toys and a new pet bird.

"It's hard and overwhelming but I have to stay strong for my little sister as well and be that support for my mom through these hard times, she’s gonna need it," said Molina's daughter, Jessy Vazquez.

The woman said the family will stay temporarily with her mother. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help them get back on their feet.

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