Sleeping man escapes from house fire in Miramar

Smoke seen billowing from house on corner of Miramar Parkway, Flamingo Road

MIRAMAR,Fla. – Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire Friday morning at a Miramar home.

A man was sleeping inside when the fire sparked at a two-story house on the corner of Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road.

"Approximately a mile away, we could see the heavy smoke, so we knew we had a structure fire," Miramar Fire-Rescue Department Battalion Chief Scott Pratt said.

Authorities said the homeowner heard the smoke detectors go off and raced out of the home. His wife was at church when the fire started but rushed home as firefighters arrived.

The couple wasn't injured, but the husband was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The wife was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

"There were no injuries to firefighters," Pratt said. "They all did a great job under very difficult conditions. There was heavy smoke and heat inside the structure when we arrived."

Pratt said the fire appeared to have started in the living room.

Three different fire departments helped to put out the fire.

Relatives of the homeowners said the couple has lived at the home for 16 years. They said the home is full of wood and everything inside was damaged from the smoke and water.

The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, but authorities said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.