MIAMI – Two cats died Monday morning after they were pulled from a 5-unit residential building that was burning in Miami, authorities said.
The fire was reported just before 9 a.m. at 651 NW Third St.
Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from the doors and windows of two units.
He said all trapped residents were safely evacuated, but two cats who weren't breathing were pulled from one of the units.
Carroll said the cats were treated at the scene by paramedics, but were pronounced dead a short time later.
"I was at the doctor's office. If I'd been home, this wouldn't have happened to the cats. They would have been the first thing I would have taken out," the cats' owner, Angel Rodriguez, said.
Others were were inside the building when the fire started told Local 10 News reporter Carlos Suarez that they were a little scared.
"A little. These apartments aren't in the best shape," Delcia Sarmento said.
Carroll said the fire has since been extinguished.
He said the fire itself damaged two units and the other three sustained smoke damage.
No people were injured in the fire, authorities said.
Carroll said all of the residents, six adults and four children, will be displaced.
The American Red Cross has been notified to provide assistance to the families.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.