HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Hollywood police are investigating an apartment fire that left a puppy dead and which authorities believe was an act of arson.
The fire was reported at 4:15 a.m. Thursday at 200 Berkley Road.
Local 10 News reporter Parker Branton spoke with one resident, who said he and his partner woke up to smoke inside their apartment.
He said they were able to grab one of their dogs, but couldn’t find their French bulldog puppy that was just weeks old. The puppy sadly lost its life in the fire.
According to Hollywood police spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi, two officers who responded to the scene immediately began evacuating residents from the building.
She said both were taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
According to Bettineschi, the officers are in good spirits and are doing well.
Neighbors told Local 10 News that there was possibly a crime committed earlier in the night before the fire started.
“Well, it was shocking because there’s never any crime here,” one woman said. “You know, we never worry about a thing here because we have the gate, so there’s never been any crime. I’ve lived here since about 2014.”
The State Fire Marshall is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Anyone with further information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.