NORTH MIAMI – Over a dozen people were displaced from their homes Friday morning after a fire erupted at an apartment in North Miami, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
A total of 14 fire rescue crews responded to the blaze just before 6:30 a.m. near the 700 block of Northeast 128th Street, authorities said.
The flames forced several families out onto the street as smoke filled their homes.
Mesly Cherydant told Local 10 News that he lost a lot due to the fire, but he and his family were grateful to be alive.
“We were very upset because we weren’t ready and we just paid for this month,” he said.
A MDFR spokesperson confirmed five apartment units were affected by this fire, displacing a total of 16 people. There were no reported injuries.
Cellphone video captured from the scene showed a massive cloud of black smoke coming from the building as fire crews used axes and chainsaws to gain entry.
Starh Gabaue said she and her family were affected by the blaze and are currently looking for shelter.
“I’m sad because I lost everything,” she said. “I just wish it was a normal day and nothing happened so that I could’ve gone to school.”
Additional body camera video shows firefighters entering one of the damaged units that had heavy damage to its roof.
The 16 displaced residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
No other details were immediately released.