A massive fire broke out at a four-story apartment complex in Miami on Monday morning.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the building, located just west of Interstate 95 near downtown Miami, around 8:15 a.m. and began rescuing residents from balconies, as reported by AP News.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said during a news conference that first responders found a man with gunshot wounds at the scene.
The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The shooting is under active investigation, and officials have called it an “isolated incident.” A suspect is in custody, but neither the charges nor the suspect’s name have been released.
Three firefighters were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital due to heat exhaustion and are in stable condition, with two having been discharged, according to Lt. Pete Sanchez of the City of Miami-Fire Rescue.
At least one resident was treated for smoke inhalation.
News helicopters showed flames and smoke rising from the building several hours after the fire began.
Ladder trucks poured water and foam onto the building.
Sanchez said: “It was a wood-frame structure which explains the intensity.” By early evening, the fire was under control but still needed to be fully extinguished.
Residents, many of them elderly, were taken to a staging area where they received food and necessary medications.
Mayor Suarez stated that at least 20 people were rehoused with family members, and 20 more were expected to be processed.
“Our hope is we will be able to place them in permanent housing as quickly as possible,” Suarez said.
“Obviously people are very emotional. They might not be able to get anything that was in those units.
“Some are worried about their pets. It’s been very upsetting, very traumatic.”
Atlantic Housing Management, the company managing Temple Court apartments, reported that one of their employees was found shot inside the complex.
They expressed grief over the events and pledged to assist the police investigation.
Smoke from the fire drifted over Interstate 95 and downtown Miami.
Residents affected by the fire are encouraged to seek help from the American Red Cross.
