Trailer Fire Claims Life Of Elderly Woman In North Miami-Dade
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NORTH DADE (CBSMiami) – The Miami-Dade Fire Department is investigating a fire that claimed the life of an elderly woman inside a trailer.
The fire broke out at around 1:30 am Thursday morning in the trailer behind a home a 201 NW 57th Court. Neighbors said a woman in her 80's lived in the trailer, behind the home where a family member lives.
Some neighbors said they heard the victim's cries for help.
"I heard a scream originally that's what woke me up," Vilma Alvarez said.
"I heard a lady banging on the trailer. Banging and banging and banging and I didn't know what do, The fire got so big I had to leave and jump the fence because it was too much heat," said Charles Alvarez.
Within minutes, neighbors said the camper, which sits in the backyard of a home, was fully engulfed in flames.
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Osvaldo Benitez, who lives in the home, ran towards the fire to help the woman trapped inside.
Benitez, in Spanish, said he broke the door of the trailer and tried to go inside but there was too much smoke. He said he get only take a few steps inside the trailer.
Alvarez, who lives behind the home, captured the scene and flames on her cell phone.
"The flames were so high, parts were going over into my yard," Alvarez said.
Firefighters arrived within minutes and were able to put the fire out before it spread. Unfortunately there were not able to save the woman, a devastating thought for Benitez who tried to save her. He said he found himself asking if he could have done more to save her.
The man who lives in the home said the woman would normally put several chairs behind the door for her safety. He believes that could have prevented her from getting out.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
