MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two people were hospitalized Monday morning after a house fire in southwest Miami-Dade.
Authorities said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene just before 10:30 a.m.
According to investigators, the fire occurred in a residence near Southwest 288th Street and Southwest 145th Avenue. A male and female were assisted out of the home.
Deputies said the male, who suffers from mental illness, is believed to have started the fire, based on preliminary investigation.
They said he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The female was also transported as a precaution and is listed in stable condition.
Good Samaritan Brian Pastana described the intense moments he and his wife drove past the Southwest Miami-Dade home on fire, only to then see an elderly woman trying to escape and screaming for help.
In an instant, the two turned around and rushed to pull her out.
“I open the door I see black smoke in my face,” said Pastana. “She is asking for help. A little smoke comes out and I stopped there and my wife is running to help.”
It was inside the home that Pastana saw the woman’s 85-year-old husband and pulled him out of the front door while surrounded by fire and smoke.
“He had smoke on his body he had burns on his face and his hair was burned,” Pastana said.
Sky 10 flew over the scene around 11 a.m., showing firefighters working on the roof of the home while crews continued to extinguish hot spots. The fire appeared to have caused significant damage, leaving charred windows in its wake.
MDSO said their Arson Unit has taken over the investigation.
No other details about the fire were immediately released.
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