Miami Beach fire dept. investigates response delay

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Miami Beach Fire Rescue officials are investigating after learning it took 31 minutes for a crew to answer a call just two miles from the nearest fire station.

The Miami Herald reports a 65-year-old man waiting for help was pronounced dead three minutes after the delayed crew arrived at his home March 5.

Fire Capt. Adonis Garcia says the department is "looking at it from top to bottom."

Records show the initial call came in 9:05 a.m. on March 5 after a woman found her husband on the floor. She said he was coherent and talking when she dialed 911. The crew was dispatched seven minutes later. She dialed 911 again before they arrived at 9:36 a.m.

Garcia says the normal response time is between 4 and 6 minutes.

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