A Miami man is in critical condition after suffering severe burns in an apartment fire Tuesday night, when flames tore through a first-floor unit and sent thick smoke pouring from the building. Fire crews rushed to the two-story complex after getting calls about the blaze, quickly moving to clear out residents. A Miami police officer who arrived ahead of firefighters went inside, pulled a trapped resident from the unit, and passed him to paramedics, who rushed the victim to a trauma center.
Officer And Firefighters Pull Resident To Safety
Miami Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to a structure fire at 1377 NW 40th Street just after 7 p.m., launching what officials described as an aggressive interior attack. “When we arrived, we found a two-story structure, like a multi-family residential with heavy smoke billowing from the front door,” Miami Fire Rescue Lieutenant Pete Sanchez told WSVN. A Miami police officer who was first on scene went inside, pulled the trapped resident out, and handed him to arriving paramedics. Crews said the victim had burns over nearly 90% of his body and was taken in critical condition to Ryder Trauma Center.
Ryder Trauma And Burn Care In Miami
The injured person was transported to Ryder Trauma Center, which houses South Florida's only verified burn center and treats hundreds of severe-burn patients each year, providing care from the acute phase through rehabilitation, according to Jackson Health. Treatment for burns that cover most of the body typically involves specialized surgery, strict infection control, and a long stretch of rehabilitation, with early airway and fluid management considered critical. Local medical teams note that outcomes hinge heavily on how extensive and deep the burns are.
Damage, Displacement And Next Steps
Firefighters knocked down the blaze in about 20 minutes and safely evacuated all other occupants, and crews also rescued a dog from the unit. Florida Power & Light restored electricity so second-floor residents and the dog could return home, while three first-floor residents were displaced and the American Red Cross was notified to assist affected families, as reported by WSVN. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
