A four-story building in the city of Miami caught fire on Monday morning, during which a man with gunshot wounds was also found at the entrance of the property. According to images shared by various local media, the building located at 431 Northwest 3rd St. was engulfed in thick smoke around 9:00 a.m.
First responders informed Local 10 that they received a call around 8:15 a.m. alerting them to an explosion and many senior citizens living in the apartments. Upon arriving at the scene, rescuers found a man outside the building who had been shot. Authorities have yet to determine if the two events are connected.
Some of the trapped residents were rescued from their balconies, while others managed to escape through the main entrance. Due to the severity of the blaze, fire rescue teams have adopted a “defensive” approach, as the fire is too hazardous to tackle from inside, according to Local 10.
Two firefighters are reported to be in stable condition after requiring hospital treatment for heat exhaustion. As of the time of writing, no further details about the fire have been released.
Questions About the Miami Apartment Building Fire
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the massive fire that engulfed a Miami apartment building.
What caused the fire in the Miami apartment building?
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Authorities are still investigating the incident.
Is there any connection between the shooting and the fire?
At this time, authorities have not established any connection between the shooting and the fire.
How many people were affected by the fire?
The exact number of people affected is not yet known, but many senior citizens lived in the apartments.