Massive fire in 4-story building in Miami displaces at least 40 people – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

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MIAMI (AP/WSVN) — A massive fire broke out Monday morning at a four-story apartment complex in Miami, leading to the evacuation of more than 50 people.

Firefighters and police officers arrived at the building just west of Interstate 95 near downtown Miami after receiving calls about a fire around 8:15 a.m. Monday, and began rescuing residents from the balconies of the building, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said at a news conference. Firefighters surrounded the building, coordinating their attack on the west side while evacuating residents on the east side.

“We had about 126 firefighters, both men and women, battling this fire for about eight hours,” Suarez said.

Suarez also said that first responders who arrived also found a man with a gunshot wound at the scene. He was taken to hospital, where he is in critical condition. Authorities said the shooting was part of an active investigation.

A suspect in the shooting, later identified as Juan Francisco Figueroa, 73, is in custody and faces criminal charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempted murder.

Three firefighters were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital due to heat exhaustion and are in stable condition, Suarez said at a news conference. Two have since been released, said Lt. Pete Sanchez, a spokesman for City of Miami-Fire Rescue. Additionally, at least one resident was being treated for smoke inhalation, he said.

The shooting victim, who was later identified as Feder-One Biotte, 30, was listed as critical.

Atlantic Housing Management, the company that manages the Temple Court apartments, said in a statement that one of its employees was found shot to death inside the complex.

“We are still determining the cause of these events and are looking for additional injuries. The police are investigating and we will help in any way possible,” the management company’s statement said. “We are saddened by everything that happened today, and our thoughts and prayers are with our team member, his family and the residents of the Temple Court community.”

7Skyforce showed flames rising from the building as well as large plumes of smoke several hours after the fire started. At least two ladder trucks were dumping water and foam on the building.

The fire forced crews into a defensive mode, working from outside the building and using the nearby Miami River to spray gallons of water onto the structure to fight the flames.

The apartment complex consists of one-bedroom and studio units near the Miami River. Flames spread through the historic 1920s wood-frame building, causing extensive damage and leading to the collapse of the roof.

“It was a wood frame structure, which explains the intensity,” Sanchez said.

By early evening, Sánchez said the fire “was under control and no longer spreading, but it still needed to be extinguished.”

The building's residents, many of whom were elderly, were taken to a staging area in José Marti Park where they were offered food and any medicine they needed, Suarez said. Firefighters evacuated more than 50 people.

Miami firefighters and other volunteers brought cots as part of an all-stakeholder approach to help the dozens of residents who lost everything in the fire. Every person was taken into account.

“We have 43 people in José Marti Park and the property management company is renting a hotel for each of them after tonight to stay there for the next two weeks,”

Staff from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardeman's office drop off supplies for displaced people.

“In the bag we have blankets, water, water bottles, after a long day without a blanket or something warm,” said Mandy Brown of the commissioner's office.

The American Red Cross was also mobilized to provide additional housing for affected residents.

“We hope to be able to place them in permanent housing as quickly as possible,” Suarez said. “Obviously people are very emotional. They might not be able to get anything from what was in those units. Some people worry about their pets. It was very upsetting, very traumatic.

Smoke from the fire also drifted across Interstate 95 and much of downtown Miami.