A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter was critically injured during a training exercise when a three-alarm fire erupted at a building in Virginia Gardens. The incident occurred Friday morning near 66th Avenue and Northwest 36th Street, as reported by WSVN. The firefighter was initially taken to Jackson West Hospital but was then airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital due to the severity of their injuries.
Smoke billowed from the building as 7Skyforce captured aerial footage of firefighters cutting into the skylight for access. Fire crews anticipated the possibility of the partial roof collapse, while on-site commanders established a base behind the building for coordination. 7News' Ralph Rayburn noted that the operation involved an amalgamation of Miami-Dade County firefighters, international firefighters, and trainees.
According to a different account by CBS Miami, the fire, which took place before noon, led to one individual being hospitalized, and multiple others medically assessed on-site. The incident unfolded in the 6500 block of NW 36 Street. Police sections off parts of 36 Street to facilitate firefighting efforts. Images relayed by Chopper 4 showed emergency services swarming the area, with firefighters perched on the building's roof and numerous rescue units marking the scene.
