A tragic fire claimed the life of a 68-year-old man identified as Kenneth Mark Pirraglia in a southwest Miami-Dade home early Tuesday morning. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue received a call about the blaze shortly after 3:30 a.m., encountering heavy flames in the garage area of a residence located in the 15800 block of SW 143rd Court. A search conducted by the crew led to the discovery of the victim who unfortunately did not survive, according to CBS Miami.

Miami-Dade police initially reported a second casualty but later clarified that there was only one fatality. The victim's son, who was at work at the time of the incident, said he rushed to the scene after being informed of the fire. It was there he learned of his father's demise. "They did find heavy fire in the garage which was used as an efficiency. Upon a quick search, they did find one victim, unfortunately, who passed," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue battalion chief Joseph Waters stated in a report obtained by CBS Miami.

Authorities are now working to determine what caused the deadly fire. Firefighters managed to contain the flames and prevent further damage to the rest of the home. The gutted structure, still standing, serves as a bleak reminder of the night's events. An investigation into the fire's origins is ongoing, and no other injuries were reported.

Confirming the tragedy, Miami-Dade police Detective Luis Sierra reported that the victims were found deceased during an inspection of the residence, according to Local 10 News. The incident adds to a string of recent emergencies in the area, including a shooting and a hit-and-run, which have kept local law enforcement and first responders on high alert.