UPDATE (1:05 p.m. EDT):
By Terry Spencer and Freida Frisaro
Associated Press
MIAMI — A massive fire broke out at a four-story apartment complex in Miami on Monday morning.
Firefighters and police officers arrived at the building just west of Interstate 95 near downtown Miami after receiving calls about a fire around 8:15 a.m., and began rescuing residents from the building’s balconies, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said during a news conference.
Suarez said arriving first responders also found a man with gunshot wounds at the scene. He was taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition. Officials said the shooting is part of an active investigation. They offered few other details.
The mayor said two firefighters were taken to a hospital due to heat exhaustion, and both were in stable condition.
Miami police officials said this was “an isolated incident,” meaning there is no gunman at large.
News helicopters showed flames rising from the building along with large plumes of smoke several hours after the fire started. At least two ladder trucks were pouring water and foam onto the building.
The Temple Court apartment complex is made up of one-bedroom and studio units near the Miami River.
Residents from the building, many of them elderly, were taken to a staging area where they were offered food and any medications they needed, Suarez said.
Smoke from the fire was also drifting over Interstate 95, and much of downtown Miami.
It was not immediately known whether anyone was injured in the fire.
City of Miami Fire Rescue firefighters work at the scene of a fire at the Temple Court apartments Monday, June 10, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky/AP
A City of Miami Fire Rescue firefighter walks from the scene of a fire at the Temple Court apartments Monday, June 10, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky/AP
Miami Fire Rescue and Miami police work at the scene of the fire at the Temple Court Apartments, Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP)
CARL JUSTE/AP
Miami Fire Rescue and Miami police work at the scene of the fire at the Temple Court Apartments, Monday, June 10, 2024 in Miami. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP)
CARL JUSTE/AP
City of Miami Fire Rescue firefighters work at the scene of a fire at the Temple Court apartments Monday, June 10, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky/AP
City of Miami Fire Rescue firefighters work at the scene of a fire at the Temple Court apartments Monday, June 10, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Lynne Sladky/AP
EARLIER:
By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
MIAMI — Several residents were evacuated from an apartment building due to a 3-alarm fire, during which firefighters discovered a person with a gunshot wound to the chest inside an apartment.
City of Miami Fire Rescue officials said the fire at 431 NW 3rd Street started on the third floor where they found a man with a gunshot wound, WSVN reported.
The gunshot victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Officials have not stated if the shooting and the fire are connected.
Miami Fire told NBC Miami that many residents, who are elderly and immobile, were rescued from their balconies. City of Miami Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Pete Sanchez said there were “multiple patients,” according to Local10.
Two firefighters suffering from heat exhaustion were transported to a hospital.
Firefighters had shifted to a defensive operation due to the scale of the fire, Local10 reported.
