Yesterday, a two-alarm fire occurred at a medical center in Tamarac, eliciting a rapid response from fire crews. Tamarac Fire Rescue reported to the blaze at the University Physicians Pavilion, located in the 7400 block of North University Drive, as captured in footage by WSVN. The fire, which began around 4:30 p.m., was spotted on the third floor of the HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital campus building.
Heavy smoke and flames were visible when firefighters arrived at the scene, with significant damages, including shattered windows due to the intensity of the fire. According to WSVN, “This building is an old building so it doesn’t have fire sprinklers, so it was building up and that’s how it became so large,” firefighter Van Schoen stated, detailing part of the challenge firefighters faced while working to extinguish the fire. The building, filled with both patients and staff at the time of the incident, was evacuated quickly as the fire alarms sounded, alerting those inside of the danger.
One individual was confirmed to have been injured—a woman suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. Initially transported to a local hospital, she was later moved to a specialized burn unit in Miami-Dade County for treatment. CBS News Miami reported the transported patient's condition and the efforts by multiple fire rescue units, including North Lauderdale, Margate, and the Broward Sheriff's Office, which aided Tamarac Fire in the firefighting effort.
The cause of the fire has not been established, but is under thorough investigation. Alongside Tamarac Fire Rescue, the state fire marshal has been called in to assist, as mentioned by Van Schoen in a statement to Tamarac Talk. Cleanup operations are underway, as fire crews worked into the night to clear the building of smoke and gases to ensure it is safe for investigators to access the scene. Additional updates on the fire's origin and any further consequences of the incident remain forthcoming as the investigation proceeds.
