Local
West Miami House Fire Injures Mother and Adult Son, Displaces Family
A fire in West Miami left a mother and her adult son with serious injuries and displaced a family of three. Neighbors called 911 after hearing screams and seeing heavy smoke, and the Red Cross is assisting the victims.
WEST MIAMI, Fla. â A mother and her adult son were seriously injured in a house fire in West Miami on Friday night, according to neighbors, in an incident that has shaken a tight-knit community.
Three people were inside the home on Southwest 12th Street near 63rd Avenue when the fire broke out, neighbors said. A third man escaped serious harm.
A neighbor who did not want to be identified said he heard loud noises and screams before noticing heavy smoke pouring from the front door. He called 911 and said a police officer arrived by the time he finished the call.
West Miami police were first on the scene, followed shortly by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews. Parts of the property appeared to be fully engulfed in flames when first responders arrived, according to the account.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Rogelio Vandamas said firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and assist the people inside. Dispatch audio captured the urgency of the rescue, with one responder requesting an additional rescue unit for another burn victim.
One neighbor recalled the harrowing image of a victim being pulled from the home, describing the man laid out on the sidewalk as first responders performed CPR for several minutes.
The fire left the family displaced, and the Red Cross responded to provide assistance.
Neighbor Adriana Gonzalez said the incident has been difficult for the community, especially because the family has lived in the neighborhood for years.
âWeâre concerned because this has never happened and these are neighbors of ours and theyâve been living here for years,â she said.
Fire investigators were working to determine what caused the blaze. No further information was immediately available.