County employee credited with saving man from fire

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A Miami-Dade Waste Management driver is being hailed a hero after he prevented a tragedy inside a burning building.

Osnel Hernandez, a Waste Management driver servicing an industrial warehouse along Southwest 132nd Avenue and 131st Street, Wednesday morning, noticed something was not right. He saw smoke and flames coming from inside the building and called 911. "I just called 911, and I explained that some building looked like it was on fire," said Hernandez.

Fire rescue crews arrived on the scene and discovered Jose Barrero, an employee, sleeping inside the building. Firefighters were able to contain the fire and rescue the worker who escaped injury. "He had a fight with his wife and he came to the office, slept on the couch," said a co-worker, who translated for Barrero.

Had it not been for Hernandez, the worker could have very well succumbed to the fire, but, Hernandez said, he was just doing his job. "I just arrived on time. It was his lucky day, I believe so," said Hernandez.

Barrero, who had arrived at the warehouse shortly before the fire sparked, is grateful Hernandez called 911 so quickly. "Thanks to the waste management worker, and he just got here about an hour before this happened," said Barrero.

Miami-Dade Waste Management has a special program that trains their drivers to call 911 if they notice anything suspicious along their routes. "They told you to be alert, whatever you see strange, call 911. Never believe something is too small. Whatever we see wrong, just call 911, and that's it," said Hernandez.

Crews continue to clean up the smoke damage caused by the fire.

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