Blaze destroys units at Public Storage

NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Flames destroyed dozens of storage units filled with valuable items at a South Florida public storage facility Monday morning.

Authorities said the blaze broke out at 2 a.m. at the Public Storage on 185th Street and Northeast Fifth Avenue. Officials said 40 units were damaged. "Concrete walls do not, unfortunately, separate each adjacent unit. It's only corrugated metal separating each unit, so the flames and the heat were able to spread quickly," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lieutenant Arnold Piedrahita.

It took over 70 firefighters to extinguish the fire that burned for two hours. All items in those units have been destroyed.

After hearing about the blaze several unit renters went by to check on their belongings. "I was up this morning at 5 o'clock and I saw it and they said it was off 5th Avenue and 95, so I said, 'Wait a minute, I think that's where my stuff is,'" Akhelia Gardner said.

Unit renters have been told it will be a couple of days before they can access their property. "I was here to pick up some stuff and they told me not to go in because something got burned," said Manny Tristancho.

Investigators are on the scene trying to figure out what sparked the fire.

No injuries were reported.

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