A Miramar homeowner suspects his home's heating system ignited a fire that quickly engulfed his residence today. The incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. in the 2900 block of Buttonwood Avenue, as per a statement obtained by CBS News Miami. The owner recalled his wife complaining of the cold, which led him to turn on the heater, not a space heater, only to be greeted by the smell of smoke. Despite shutting down the system, he heard a loud boom and noticed more smoke pouring out from the rooftop. He managed to quickly evacuate his wife and dog and immediately alerted authorities.
Miramar Fire Department received a call at around 3:30 a.m. and hastily responded to the scene, where firefighters witnessed flames, according to details from NBC Miami. "Upon arrival crews noted an active working fire," fire rescue said. The fire department successfully evacuated all residents, and fortunately no other structures were involved. The fire was extinguished and no injuries have been reported. The intervention was prompt enough to prevent any further damage to nearby properties.
Shortly thereafter, a crime scene van, along with the Fire Marshal, were spotted at the property. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary statements from the homeowner indicate that he noticed smoke and turned off the heating system. However, the situation quickly escalated. "I turned off the power from the heater, then in a couple more minutes I started opening all the doors and there was smoke coming out," the homeowner recounted. "Two or three minutes later... we hear some explosions," as noted by NBC Miami.
As they continue to piece together the events leading up to the blaze, officials haven't released any additional information regarding the cause. However, the Rescue's chief concern appeared to be providing assistance to the affected family and ensuring the blaze did not spread. The homeowner's quick reaction to call 911 and to swiftly vacate the premises may have been critical in avoiding tragedy, as detailed in an interview given to CBS News Miami. The Miramar Fire Department and the Fire Marshal's Office are expected to fully disclose their findings once the investigation concludes.
