A firefighter was injured as crews were battling a massive fire at a vacant lumber warehouse in Miami Friday morning, officials said.
A firefighter was injured as crews were battling a massive fire at a vacant lumber warehouse in Miami Friday morning, officials said.
The fire broke out at the Little River Building Home Supply building on Northeast 2nd Avenue and 78th Street in Little River.
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WATCH HEREMiami Fire Rescue officials said crews responded just after 6 a.m. and found the building on fire.
Footage showed flames and heavy smoke coming from the building as fire crews attacked it with hoses.
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Officials said crews searched the building and confirmed no one was inside.
After about 10 minutes of battling the massive blaze, officials became concerned about the building's structural integrity and all firefighters were evacuated due to the risk of collapse.
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"It was too dangerous and there were no occupants inside. As I said, it was abandoned, so for the safety of our firefighters, we fought fire from outside," Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said.
Firefighters started using a "defensive strategy" to contain the fire from the outside, but after more than two hours, the fire was still burning and more crews were called in to assist, officials said.
One firefighter who was suffering from heat exhaustion and a back injury had to be hospitalized, officials said.
The warehouse had been the home of Little River Building and Home Supply. Reza Haghayegh owned the property for 25 years but said he sold it two years ago and it has remained vacant ever since.
"We’re really heartbroken to see it burn down like that, a lot of memories," Haghayegh said.
The cause of the fire will be determined once it's extinguished, officials said.
Check back with NBC6 for updates.
