The fire broke out before sunrise Saturday along Southwest Eighth Court.
NORTH LAUDERDALE, FL — One person died and five others were injured Saturday after a house fire broke out before sunrise in North Lauderdale, sending firefighters and sheriff’s deputies to a home along Southwest Eighth Court.
The fire brought a large emergency response to a residential block in Broward County and left investigators working through the day to determine how the flames started. Officials said several people were taken to hospitals, including a child, while a death investigation and a fire-cause review moved forward.
North Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies were called at about 5 a.m. to the 8000 block of Southwest Eighth Court. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and active flames at the home. Neighbor Jean Gervilus said the flames were spreading fast near his property. “It was kind of scary,” Gervilus said. Another neighbor, who identified herself as Altamese, said she saw smoke from behind her house, then heard glass breaking, sirens and screams as first responders worked at the scene.
Fire rescue crews took six injured people to Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach, including a 6-year-old child and an adult man who was listed in critical condition during the early response. Deputies later said one person died at the hospital. NBC 6 reported the person killed was a 70-year-old man. Officials had not released the victim’s name by Saturday night. Authorities also had not confirmed the conditions of all five surviving patients or whether anyone else had been inside the house when the fire began.
Tamarac Fire Rescue assisted North Lauderdale crews during the response and transported one adult and one child to the hospital. Firefighters worked to knock down the flames while deputies secured the area. CBS News Miami reported that crews found a large, active fire with heavy smoke when they reached the home. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the State Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating the cause. As of Saturday night, officials had not said whether the fire started inside or outside the home, and they had not announced any finding of criminal activity.
The fire happened in a quiet residential section of North Lauderdale, a Broward County city west of Fort Lauderdale. The blaze drew neighbors outside before dawn as smoke moved through the area and emergency vehicles filled the street. Terry Gervilus, who lives nearby, said the flames rose high and were too intense for anyone outside the home to enter safely. The home’s condition after the fire was not immediately clear, and officials had not said whether the structure could be lived in again.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said a death investigation was underway, which is common after a fatal fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is expected to review the scene, examine burn patterns and collect evidence that could point to the fire’s origin and cause. Investigators had not released a timeline for their findings. No arrests or charges had been announced Saturday night. Officials also had not said whether working smoke alarms were found inside the home.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene as firefighters, paramedics and deputies worked before sunrise. Altamese said the sounds from the home were difficult to hear. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. Jean Gervilus said he used a garden hose near his property as the flames grew, while other neighbors warned him to leave. Fire crews remained responsible for the main attack on the blaze and the rescue response, while deputies handled the death investigation after the injured were taken from the scene.
By Saturday night, one person was dead, five others had been hospitalized and the cause of the fire remained under investigation. The next major update is expected when officials identify the victim, release patient conditions or announce findings from the fire marshal’s review.
Author note: Last updated June 20, 2026.