Duplex fire displaces 2 families in Lauderhill, officials say

Red Cross assisting families with temporary housing

LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A fire destroyed two apartments in Lauderhill Sunday, displacing seven residents, officials said.

The fire broke out around 8 a.m. at a duplex apartment building in the 5300 block of Northwest 15th Court. Firefighters with the Lauderhill Fire Rescue Department said they encountered heavy flames and and smoke upon arrival.

"And at the height of this fire, the flames shooting from this home were so strong, so intense that it singed the leaves of some neighboring trees," said Capt. Jerry Gonzalez, a spokesman for Lauderhill Fire Rescue.

Crews from the Sunrise Fire Rescue Department also assisted in putting out the fire.

"At the time of the fire, there were three residents in one unit who were sleeping, and they were awoken by a neighbor and they got outside," Gonzalez said.

Another family of four next door also manged to make it out of harm’s way.

No one was hurt, but the fire left the two apartments uninhabitable, officials said.

The Red Cross South Florida was called in to assist the two families with temporary housing.


About the Authors:

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.