NW Miami house fire displaces 7 adults, kills 2 dogs
MIAMI - A house fire displaced 7 adults and killed 2 dogs Monday morning in Northwest Miami.
It happened at around 11 a.m. at a single-story residential triplex in the area of 412 NW 59 Street.
When fire crews arrived they found smoke and flames showing and reports of animals trapped inside.
Firefighters had the fire under control in under 30 minutes, but authorities say 2 out of 5 dogs died due to smoke inhalation. Two cats were also removed from the residence.
"It breaks my heart. I really loved them," Vivian Hinnant's two precious pups, Sox and Cinnamon, did not survive the fire.
"I don't have any children. Pets are your family. I don't have any children; those are my kids."
Hinnant was not home when the fire started. Her neighbor, Wendell Carpenter, was.
"Came to me, knocked on my door, and said fire, fire, fire."
A neighbor alerted Carpenter to get out, so she did.
"Windows were just about the blow. As soon as I passed the window, snap, crackle, pop," said Carpenter.
Alfred Walker lived in the back unit. He was watching TV when he smelled the smoke. Walker made it out with his little one Kay-Girl in hand.
"It feels good," Walker feels blessed his dog survived.
One patient was evaluated for a small burn to the ears but did not require hospitalization.
The Red Cross is helping those affected by the fire.
Residents spent hours after combing through the damage, looking for salvageable belongings to take with them. Fire ripped through the walls and roof.
"Our investigator is here and will determine how it started," Pete Sanchez said with Miami Fire Rescue.
The fire remains under investigation.