Fire Engulfs NW Miami-Dade Home
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A South Florida house that had stood since the early part of the last century was destroyed after a Friday morning fire torched the all wood home in NW Miami-Dade County.
The flames, which could be seen from Chopper 4, completely consumed the back of the house.
It took 14 units and 50 firefighters to put out the fully engulfed home located at 7950 NW 18th Court
"I woke up and I heard something go pop," said Barbara Romero, who lost her home in the fire.
"We don't have a place to live," said Terri Kirby who also lived at the home. "We have two kids."
Two-year-old Carrie Anne and eight-year-old Jacob were terrified when they woke-up to smoke and flames. Jacob ran from the fire without shoes on, but was thankful to get his Xbox out of the flames.
"My grandpa got it out for me," said Jacob Ortiz.
The second alarm was called to get more manpower on the scene to stretch hoses so the first arriving crews could start attacking the fire immediately, according to Miami-Dade public information officer Lt. Arnold Piedrahita.
Firefighters also had to tend to a chicken hawk that was being taken care of by the family. The chicken hawk had recently been shot in the neighborhood and the family was helping it get healthy. The bird suffered smoke inhalation from the fire.
Romero said the fire started in a back bedroom.
"The damage was extensive at the rear of the structure," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Danny Cardeso. "But the smoke has probably made the rest of the house unlivable."
The family is being assisted by the American Red Cross.
