Northwest Miami-Dade Business Goes Up In Flames

The fire erupted Wednesday afternoon in a cluster of businesses including an auto body shop, a restaurant, a flower shop and a tire and rim store. Video from Chopper 4 showed flames climbing through the roof of the building and thick, black smoke pouring high into the sky.

Fortunately no one was hurt but the fire did cause major damage. Fire officials say they will begin sifting through the damage Thursday to try and determine the cause of the fire.

Miami Dade Fire Rescue released video of the blaze to the media. It shows a chaotic scene when firefighters arrived at the fire in the 76-hundred block of NW 27 Avenue.

With so many different types of businesses, firefighters say there was a cocktail of chemicals in the air and on the ground and other dangers.

"There were some propane tanks exploding which made it impossible for firefighters to go in there," said Fire Rescue Lt. Arnold Piedrahita.

The roof collapsed on the building and firefighters took up defensive positions trying to put out the fire. Bathed in smoke and surrounded by an intense heat, firefighters did their best to extinguish the flames.

But the damage was extensive.

Ian Hosein owns a tire and rim business called Cool Runnings Tires & Rims. He said he was working when the fire broke out.

"I just heard boom, boom and I looked back and seen fire," he told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "There's nothing I can do. It's already finished."

Hosein said he does not have insurance on his 18-year-old business and will need to begin looking for another job.

But the destruction is measured only in dollars. None of the firefighters or anyone in the businesses -- eating at the restaurant or walking in the surrounding area were hurt.

The fire shut down nearby streets and forced people indoors.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Department officials, there were people inside the building when the fire broke out. They were all evacuated to safety.