A blaze engulfed La Esquina de la Fama restaurant in Miami's vibrant Little Havana neighborhood yesterday afternoon, triggering a swift response from fire crews. CBS News Miami reported that the fire, which produced heavy smoke and flames from both the front and rear of the establishment, was attended to by firefighters shortly after 4 p.m. According to owner Miky Chevalier, who expressed his distress to CBS News Miami, "It was a big fire, and we almost lost everything," highlighting the precarious nature of maintaining a family enterprise for over a decade.
The incident, escalating to a Code 1 working fire, demanded additional resources on the scene, where firefighters launched an aggressive attack, ventilated the roof, and confirmed that all occupants had evacuated safely. "We were working like any normal day and we went in and that's when we saw smoke and the sparks of flames," Alejandra Ruiz-Machin, an employee at the restaurant, told CBS News Miami. The fire, which was underway while the business was open, prompted the three employees inside to leave the premises and seek emergency help.
While the flames were contained within 20 minutes, the aftermath left crews grappling with the assessment of potential food damage and the investigation into the cause of the fire. As per the account of Miky Chevalier in an interview with CBS News Miami, the health and food inspector was promptly contacted for assessment. The stoic resolve of the business owner echoed through his words, "It's a family business, but we're gonna' do it again," testifying to an undampened spirit.
Aerial footage captured by NBC Miami illustrated smoke billowing from the structure as the Miami Fire Rescue teams tackled the conflagration. Traffic disruptions ensued on SW 8th Street between 12th and 17th Avenues, recounted by Miami police to CBS News Miami, due to necessary road closures in the wake of the incident.
Additionally, a photo released by Miami Fire Rescue and shared by Local 10 News showed heavy damage to the restaurant’s ceiling, though the full extent is still being assessed. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but relief is evident among witnesses and responders as no one was injured.
