Flames tore through a trailer in Northwest Miami-Dade overnight, burning through the roof of the structure and damaging items in a structure located next to it.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the first-alarm blaze in the area of Northwest 81st Street and 13th Avenue, early Tuesday morning.
Fireighters arrived to find a converted trailer and box truck engulfed in flames.
Cameras captured flames shooting out of the trailer shortly after the fire ignited, at around 3:30 a.m..
“It’s on fire, unknown what – they heard an explosion, and they’re not sure what exploded,” a dispatcher said in radio transmissions.
Surveillance video shows how quickly the flames grew, as well as that explosion that startled the community.
Vladimir Aguirre, who lives in the structure next to the trailer with another person and four pets, said he was in shock when he arrived at the scene to see everything he owned up in flames.
“Well, it’s terrible. I don’t even know how to explain this feeling to you,” he said in Spanish.
Aguirre said he wasn’t sure if his dogs and two bunnies were alive.
Crews, meanwhile, were able get the flames and smoke under control. Once the fire was contained, officials said, they used a specialized foam to make sure it wouldn’t reignite.
Hours later, Aguirre confirmed all of his pets are OK,, saying his bunnies were a little shaken but alive.
As for what started the fire, firefighters told Aguirre that batteries that were charging exploded.
7 Drone Force hovered above the charred trailer home in the aftermath of the blaze.
While everything he owned was destroyed by the flames, Aguirre said, he said what’s most important is that everyone is alive.
Officials continue to investigate this fire.
