Oct 2, 2008 7:46 am US/Eastern
Investigation Continues Into Deadly Apartment Fire
SOUTH MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami-Dade homicide investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a deadly South Miami apartment building fire.
Wednesday afternoon the 29 unit Brittany Court apartment complex was deemed uninhabitable by building inspectors. Residents were allowed back in to retrieve important documents and clothes.
Miami Dade firefighters say they saw flames and thick gray smoke coming from the second story windows when they arrived at the apartment building at 7430 Southwest 59th Court around 7:00 a.m. The first arriving units immediately called for back up to aid in the building's evacuation.
Two people had to be rescued from their balcony when their escape route was blocked by heavy smoke. All of the residents were evacuated from the building without injury.
As firefighters made their way to the second floor, they determined the fire originated in a corner apartment. Forcing their way inside they found the unit fully engulfed in flames. The fire was so intense that it forced firefighters to their knees.
After about 15 minutes, the fire was extinguished; that is when firefighters found a body, which had been burned beyond recognition, in the bedroom of the apartment where the fire had started.
Police have not released the name of the deceased individual.
The American Red Cross is assisting about 100 displaced residents with a temporary place to live.
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