Mayor reacts to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue training exercise gone wrong – NBC 6 South Florida

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is pushing for an investigation after an incident Friday during Miami-Dade firefighter training.

One person was hospitalized as crews battled a third-alarm fire at a building near Miami International Airport.

The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. at the three-story building in the 6500 block of Northwest 36th Street, across the street from the airport.

“I was deeply saddened to learn that an accident occurred during a training exercise with Miami-Dade Fire Department personnel,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “I have asked our public safety chief to conduct a thorough investigation into the events that took place yesterday as well as a full review of protocols and practices – to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent an incident like this one in the future, to keep our firefighters and first responders safe.”

Aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed smoke coming from the building as several Miami-Dade fire crews responded, using ladders to access the roof and breaking windows to gain entry.

More than 30 emergency vehicles responded to the scene, including motor trucks, ambulances and others.

RAW: Crews respond to a building fire near Miami International Airport.

NBC6 sources with direct knowledge of the training said Miami-Dade firefighters were in the building with a live fire.

The sources said someone was inside the warehouse who was not supposed to be there. This person was injured and transported to a local hospital.

The identity and condition of this person were unknown. Chopper 6 spotted a Miami-Dade Fire Department rescue helicopter transporting a person to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The scanner conversations also captured a conversation related to the fire.

“Two victims who were initially inside came out, the third victim is an unconscious firefighter, do we know which unit he comes from?” » asks a first responder.

“I think the firefighter who was shot was one of the Saudi firefighters,” replied a second.

“Copy. So one of the firefighters is a downed firefighter who is Saudi. Okay, copy, thanks for the clarification,” the other first responder says.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has a partnership with Saudi Arabia where its firefighters come to train in South Florida.

Fire officials confirmed one person was transported to the main trauma center, but said the patient was not a Miami-Dade Fire Department employee.

Earlier Friday, officials said several patients were being evaluated at the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities said.

Jimmy Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer and state fire marshal, posted an article about the incident on X.

“Terrible situation in Miami today. I have been in contact with local authorities and fire investigators from my office are on their way to the scene to assist @MiamiDadeFire with the fire investigation,” Patronis posted . “Please join me in praying for those injured in this unfortunate incident.”

Patronis' communications director also released a statement on the fire.

“This fire investigation is open and ongoing at this time. The DFS (Department of Financial Services) investigation will focus solely on the cause of the fire,” the statement said. “Any information regarding injuries should be directed to local authorities.”

No further information was immediately known.

Check back with NBC6 for updates.