FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Medics took one person to the hospital after a house fire in Florida City Thursday morning.
The fire broke out at around 7:30 a.m. at 845 NW 12th St., according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
An MDFR spokesperson said firefighters found “several” animals in the home and called Miami-Dade Animal Services for assistance. Video from the scene showed a number of dogs placed in cages.
A man inside the house, Justin Roberson, said one of his six children alerted him to the blaze.
“One of them came out and said ‘Daddy, something’s on fire,’” he said. “And I looked and it was small so I went to grab the mop bucket and fill it at least halfway, by the time I got back, it was out of control.”
His pregnant wife and his mother-in-law were also in the house, along with their numerous pets.
“My first instinct was to grab my mother-in-law because she has COPD and then grab the rest of the children,” he said. “I ain’t care about the valuables.”
Medics took the man’s mother-in-law to Homestead Hospital, in need of oxygen.
Three of eight dogs removed from the home died.
Two cats were inside as well. One of them was seen laying in the grass, trying to survive, while another ran off in fear.
Roberson said his family “lost everything.”
“My dogs can’t be replaced,” victim Patricia Frey said. “But they’ll always be remembered.”
Officials haven’t released a suspected cause of the blaze.
Fire investigators were sent to the scene, according to MDFR.