Gas leak keeps fire victims out

PALMETTO BAY, Fla. (WSVN) -- A fire has forced the lengthy evacuation of hundreds of residents following the discovery of a gas leak.

Tuesday afternoon, the residents of an apartment building, which caught fire Monday night, were only allowed in for a few moments each at a time to collect personal belongings. "My work stuff, some shoes. Who knows how long we're going to be out," said Mario Suarez, one of the 200 or so displaced residents.

All of the 96 units at the apartment complex on Southwest 145th Street and 89th Avenue have been declared uninhabitable while inspectors seek out the source of the gas leak following the two-alarm fire. "We have declared the building unsafe," said Palmetto Bay building inspector Edward Silva.

As many as 28 units suffered direct damage from the fire. The remaining units suffered damage when fire crews went unit-to-unit and kicked in doors to make sure everyone had evacuated. Miami-Dade Fire Division Chief David Wood said the move to break into the remaining units saved lives. "The decision to break into the doors was my decision, and if we had not, it's my belief that we would have had fatalities here," he said.

Those whose apartments suffered direct damage to their units could be out of their homes for several months. Meanwhile, it remains unclear when the majority of the residents would be allowed back in their homes. "The earliest we'll get people in is still anybody's guess," noted Condo Association vice-president Cindy Blanck.

It is believed a single apartment on the second story was the source of the fire, though investigators have yet to pinpoint the cause.

Roughly 100 firefighters arrived on the scene to find smoke billowing from the rooftop at around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Residents like Daniel Halloway helped get neighbors to evacuate their apartments. "A bunch of us started banging on doors, ordering people out, and we got them all out," he said.

As a result of the brave actions by firefighters and residents, no one was was injured. The Red Cross is assisting many of the displaced residents.

Miami-Dade Police will patrol the area to keep the building secure until residents are allowed back inside.

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