Residents Forced From Coconut Creek Homes In Blaze
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COCONUT CREEK (CBSMiami) -- Residents of a dozen apartments were forced out of their homes Friday afternoon when a fire broke out at a Coconut Creek apartment complex.
The blaze started around 2:30 p.m. at the complex located at 3858 Coral Tree Circle near Sample Road and Lyons Road.
It is unclear what started the blaze but 12 units were left uninhabitable by the fire, leaving the families temporarily homeless.
Coconut Creek Police say three people were rushed to Northwest Medical Center. Two suffered smoke inhalation. The third person -- an adult man -- was taken to Kendall Burn Center for inhalation burns. We're told that he is in serious condition.
Residents describe a chaotic scene when the fire broke out.
"The smoke was pitch black," said Aliette Codio. "Everybody was screaming."
Another resident said he was in the shower when the fire broke out. He rushed to save his mother and dog.
"Thank God my mom is good. That's more important. My mom and my dog," said resident Jorge Roofa.
Others, like Craig Keltakian, rushed to help animals. He said he knew that his neighbor's labrador mix puppy, Mace, was stuck inside an apartment.
"We broke a window and eventually got him out," he said.
Mace's owner, Emily Pelaez, calls Craig a hero.
"I'm really grateful," she said. "Forever grateful."
Residents say the heat and smoke were intense as firefighters battled the blaze for about 30 minutes.
"The fire busted (my windows) open," said a resident who's unit is just feet away from where the fire started.
Late Friday evening, Coconut Creek fire investigators sifted through the first floor unit where they say the fire started to try and discover what caused the blaze. They say it might be sometime next week before they have any answers.
Investigators say there are numerous cats that are unaccounted for from the first floor unit where the fire broke out. Once the building was secure, residents went back to get a few things. James Wetjen says he was told he might be out of his home for as long as a week.
"Right now, the smoke in there is just terrible," he said. "You can't even breathe when you go inside."
Shortly before nightfall the Red Cross arrived to help provide food and temporary lodging for the people with nowhere to go as workers prepared to board up the damaged units.