Rain helps to put out brush fire, but not before leaving damage behind in Miami-Dade

Cause of fire remains unclear

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A brush fire that was burning Friday in southwest Miami-Dade County was put out with some help from Mother Nature.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said the fire was reported just before 2 p.m. and covered several acres from Southwest 124th Street to 128th Street and from Southwest 134th Avenue to 127th Avenue.

Authorities said trees caught fire in the area and Florida Forestry officials were called in to assist in extinguishing the blaze. Air Rescue was also dispatched to deploy water drops. 

The scorching hot flames burned dangerously close to a road full of cars and threatened a row of businesses right across the street.

A warehouse and other nearby structures were evacuated due to their proximity to the flames, authorities said.

"It was smoke everywhere. People were running like crazy," Luis Gonzalez said. "The ladies from this building were running without shoes and crying and saying, 'Go, go, go. The fire is too high.'"

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials, the fire spread to a grassy area on the north side of Southwest 124th Street and into the parking lot of a business. Two vehicles caught fire, but firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames, officials said.

Steve Garcia, a former cop and military veteran, tried his best to save his Hyundai. He said he knew it was dangerous but after serving two tours, he didn't think much about it.

"When I saw my car, the back was in flames. I said, 'I gotta get my car,' and I got burned on my arms, some of my hair," Garcia said.

As hard as the firefighters fought the flames, it was Mother Nature who brought rapid relief.

"The rain was a tremendous help," said Kirsten Miller, with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. "Mother Nature really did — we would still likely be here fighting fire if we hadn’t had that good rain."

The cause of the brush fire is unclear. 


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.