A kitchen fire broke out in a Southwest Miami-Dade apartment this morning, triggering a swift response from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. According to WSVN, 12 fire units were dispatched to the 15300 block of SW 106th Terrace around 7:46 a.m. Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze and worked to manage smoke and hot spots.
The fire displaced three families just before Christmas Eve. Ada Diaz, whose Nochebuena preparations were interrupted, shared with CBS News, "I'm trying to put the pork for Christmas Eve and .. and I went outside to look for my laundry and I saw the smoke."
One apartment was completely destroyed, while neighboring units suffered water and smoke damage. Orlando Garcia told CBS News, "A lot of water. "It doesn't look that bad but there's a lot of damage. A lot of water damage. All my Christmas presents wet completely." Despite the losses, Renny Gonzalez, whose apartment was on an upper floor, prioritized his family's safety over material things. The American Red Cross assisted the affected families by providing funds for a three-night hotel stay.
After the fire, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue emphasized the importance of cooking safety, advising never to leave cooking unattended, using timers, and keeping a fire extinguisher nearby. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires nationwide. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
