A two-alarm fire caused significant damage to a three-story residential building in Miami's Little Havana on Wednesday, forcing over twenty residents to evacuate and preventing them from returning home that night.
As reported by Telemundo 51, the blaze was first reported around 3:25 p.m. at 2110 West Flagler Street, right in the heart of Miami's historic Cuban neighborhood. Upon inspection after the incident, authorities deemed the building unsafe.
Details of the Fire's Progression
When the first units from Miami Fire-Rescue arrived, they encountered thick smoke emanating from hidden areas beneath the structure.
Lieutenant Pete Sanchez, an official spokesperson on the scene, described the situation: "We arrived to find a three-story residential building with dense smoke coming from the spaces beneath the building."
The wooden construction of the building exacerbated the situation. "It's a wooden structure, so there are many open spaces under the floors and within the walls where the fire seemingly started spreading," Sanchez explained to WSVN 7News.
The situation was initially declared a Code 1—active fire—and a second alarm was soon requested to bring in additional resources. In total, around 60 firefighters worked to control the flames, which spread through concealed spaces, walls, and the attic.
To identify hidden hot spots not visible to the naked eye, teams used specialized technology. "We had the drone in operation and thermal cameras to ensure we found the hot spots," noted Sanchez.
The fire was brought under control in less than an hour. However, the flames came perilously close to the building’s gas lines, which could have resulted in a much larger disaster had they not been extinguished in time.
Evacuation and Resident Accounts
The building housed 18 residential units, 16 of which were occupied at the time of the fire. All residents and their pets were accounted for, with no injuries reported.
The evacuation was chaotic yet effective, partly due to the solidarity among neighbors. Resident Connie Fernandez recounted how she became aware of the danger during a video call:
"I was in my apartment on FaceTime with someone and realized I could kind of taste the smoke as I talked, so I said, 'hold on,' looked up, and my whole room was filled with smoke. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew I had to get out."
Fernandez also described how her neighbors alerted everyone in the building: "They started banging on all the apartment doors, and I knew we had to leave, something was very wrong."
Displaced Residents Left Without Homes
Following the fire, Miami’s Building Department's Unsafe Structures Unit inspected the premises and declared it unsafe, barring residents from returning that night.
Miami Fire-Rescue provided a bus to offer displaced individuals temporary shelter, air conditioning, and water while assistance was organized. This was especially crucial given the heatwave affecting South Florida at the time.
The American Red Cross also responded, coordinating with the City of Miami's Human Services Department to arrange hotel accommodations in Miami Springs for those in need.
Despite the aid, the distress among affected residents was palpable. "I need a place to live because the building is uninhabitable. I need a place to live," Fernandez expressed.
The fire occurs amid growing housing pressure in Little Havana, where over 200 families from the Silver Court Mobile Home Park, many of whom are low-income Cuban and Latino residents, have been notified of an impending eviction by September 30.
In August 2025, a fire also devastated La Esquina de la Fama restaurant on Calle Ocho, causing severe damage but no injuries.
The Miami Fire-Rescue Investigations Unit continues to work on determining the fire’s origin and cause, with the investigation still ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Havana Fire Incident
What caused the fire in Little Havana?
The origin and cause of the fire are still under investigation by the Miami Fire-Rescue Investigations Unit.
How many people were affected by the fire?
Over twenty residents were forced to evacuate the building, with 16 of 18 residential units occupied at the time of the fire.
Were there any injuries reported?
No injuries were reported among the residents or their pets.