Man pulled from Miami house fire, three first responders taken to the hospital
MIAMI - Several people, including police officers, were injured early Thursday morning in a Miami house fire.
Miami Fire Rescue said just before 12:30 a.m., they received word of the fire at 3691 NW 16 Street.
When firefighters arrived, they were met by several family members standing outside screaming that a loved one was trapped inside the back of the home.
"Immediately our firefighters made entry and found the gentleman on the floor with second-degree burns over 30 percent of his body. They brought him out to safety and took him to the hospital," said Miami Fire Rescue Lieutenant Pete Sanchez.
Pedro Escalona said his brother, 54-year-old Rohel Escalona, was in the house with three family members. He said an electrical problem may have started the fire.
"It may have been a short circuit in the lamp. He was sleeping. The apartment caught on fire. The fire department was called and they arrived. He was in the apartment with his sister and family. They told me he was in bad shape. Imagine, your brother is burned," he said.
Sanchez said the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Two Miami police officers who rushed into the home to help the family were also taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
"They were evaluated on the scene and they were taken to the hospital for precautionary measures and some smoke inhalation. Luckily they are in stable condition and we're grateful for their assistance. We also had a Miami firefighter evaluated at the hospital because he was the first arriving firefighter on the scene," he said.
The firefighter has since been released from the hospital. The police officers are going to be okay.
The American Red Cross was called in to assist the family.