MIAMI, FL – A fire erupted on Monday morning at the Temple Court Apartments, coinciding with a shooting investigation that left one man critically injured. The incident unfolded at 431 NW 3rd Street, where emergency responders discovered a man on the third floor suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Mayor Francis Suarez reported that calls about the fire started coming in around 8:15 a.m. “We received multiple calls about a fire at this location. Upon arrival, we found one person had been shot and transported to JMH. Simultaneously, our firefighters were contending with an intensifying blaze,” Suarez said.
Authorities are still determining whether the shooting and the fire are connected. More than 30 fire crews were dispatched to tackle the massive blaze, which had engulfed the four-story building near downtown Miami. Heavy smoke and flames were seen spewing from a third-floor window when fire crews arrived.
Captain Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire Rescue described the scene as chaotic. “When we got there, we saw heavy smoke and flames coming from a third-floor window. As we entered the building, the flames were spreading rapidly. Our priority was to evacuate everyone and contain the fire,” Carroll stated.
At least 30 residents, including many elderly individuals, were rescued. One person was hospitalized, although it remains unclear if this was the shooting victim or another individual. Residents reported hearing explosions as they evacuated the building.
The fire’s spread was facilitated by the building’s common attic, making it difficult for firefighters to control the blaze. “Right now, we are focused on preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. It’s a stubborn fire, spreading into areas that are hard to reach,” Carroll added.
The building’s wooden infrastructure and limited access points further complicated firefighting efforts. A cooling station was established nearby to aid fire crews, and two firefighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion but are in stable condition. A reunification center has been set up at the community center at San Marti Park for displaced residents to reconnect with their families.