Opa-Locka Residents Get First Look After Apartment Fire
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OPA-LOCKA (CBSMiami) – The day after a fire tore through an Opa-Locka apartment complex, crews began work on the building and residents got their first look at their homes.
"Everything is intact. The windows are blown out in my apartment, smoke but everything is there," said Sherrell Williams.
After seeing the flames shooting into the sky, Williams says it was a relief to find her apartment without extensive damage.
"I cried my tears and I cried during my sleep last night, but then I looked up today and it's a brighter day," she said.
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It's still not clear what caused the Friday afternoon fire that officials say started in a third floor apartment and spread to the roof.
Dozens of residents turned to a Red Cross shelter at the Sherbondy Village Community Center for meals and a place to spend the night Friday and Saturday.
"They gave us clothes. They gave us food. They talk with us; they try to make us feel happy," said Junior Roache.
"We're just getting through day by day. Thank God for the Red Cross," added Mellisia Ligons.
Community members spent their Saturday helping neighbors in need.
Alfonso Ervin, 15, lives next door to the building that burned.
He told CBS4's Maggie Newland the fire was "just tragic."
He donated food and clothing.
"I really wanted to do more for these people but if this is the best I can do, I thank God," he said.
While some still don't know if everything in their homes survived the fire, they're thankful everyone in the building did.
"We've got food. We've got shelter and we've got each other, so that's the best thing we could have for right now," said Ligons.
"You know what I did? I sat back I thanked God I wasn't asleep two or three in the morning, that it was daytime that we were able to get out. Nobody was harmed, so for that I just thank God," added Sylvia Mcphee.