Three Hospitalized Including Police Officer and Firefighter After Fire at Hollywood High-Rise

Yesterday fire at a Hollywood high-rise resulted in the hospitalization of three people, including a police officer and firefighter, officials report. The fire, which occurred in the 300 block of Surf Road at the Edgewater Beach Towers, sent plumes of smoke and flames billowing from an upper-floor apartment unit. Images from NBC6's Chopper 6 captured the intensity of the blaze as firefighters fought to extinguish it.

The resident of the affected apartment managed to escape harm by exiting his apartment before the fire spread, mentioning to NBC6 that he flipped a circuit before leaving for a bike ride. However, the cause of the fire is still under investigation by authorities. The same resident realized the fire from a distance and upon returning could not re-enter his apartment due to the smoke, prompting him to pull the fire alarm and alert his neighbors.

According to the officials, an elderly woman, a firefighter, and a Hollywood Police officer were transported to local hospitals for smoke inhalation. Thankfully, there were no major injuries reported. The team's response was swift, as CBS News Miami points out, with firefighters and emergency personnel quickly containing the fire to prevent further damage or injury.

The resident took an optimist view despite the unfortunate incident, telling NBC6, "Everything I lost is replaceable. No one was injured, and we can only move up from here." Following the extinguishment of the fire, crews remained on scene to ensure it didn't rekindle or spread to other parts of the building. While residents were not evacuated, the incident caused a loss of power on several floors. Moving forward, investigations will continue into the exact cause of the fire.