Massive Fire Rips Through Opa-Locka Apartment Building
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Opa-Locka (CBSMiami) – Fire crews are investigating a fire that brought down parts of Opa-Locka apartment complex's roof.
The fire started just after 4 p.m. at 2407 N.W. 135th Street.
Miami-Dade firefighters said the fire started in a third floor apartment and spread to the roof.
As she watched the fire burn, Sylvia Mcphee thought about everything left behind in her home.
"I have things from my grandmother, my mother, my aunt. I have pictures that they can never be replaced, my grandkids. It's material things, but I worked very hard to get the nice things that I had. They can never put a value on that apartment," she told CBS4's Maggie Newland.
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Mcphee said her third floor apartment is right next door to the unit where the fire started.
"I was there 20 minutes relaxing, playing with my grandkids. We went to the store and came back and now I've got nothing to go to."
Shanica Oliver added, "The girl whose house got burned I'm right below her. Everything's gone, just me and my puppy and my husband."
Residents of the 94 unit complex spent the evening trying to figure out what would happen next.
The Red Cross brought water and snacks, and promised shelter for those with nowhere to stay, but many remained worried because they couldn't go inside their homes to get much needed medicine.
Despite their frustration and sadness, people who live here are thankful no one was hurt in the fire.
"That's a blessing," said Oliver.
"I have life. I am thankful for that, but I do have something I worked very hard to create and achieve there in my home. I was comfortable and it's gone," said Mcphee.
The Red Cross said more than 100 people indicated they would need assistance.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
