Anxious Renters Check On Belongings After Storage Complex Fire
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Some anxious renters who have units at a Miami Gardens storage facility showed up Tuesday morning to check on their property after several units went up in flames Monday.
The fire broke out around 5 p.m. at the Public Storage complex at 3505 NW 167th.
Some people who rent units there found out about the fire after they saw the flames from the Palmetto Highway.
Madia Henderson showed up Monday night to see if her unit was one of the ones damaged in the fire. She said everything she owns is stored there because she's in the process of relocating.
Monday night, fire investigators searched every unit which turned out to be a tougher job than putting out the fire.
"There's gasoline, paint cans, ammunition from weapons." said Fire Chief Hugh Bruger. "That stuff can really hurt our people, let alone just the mass amount of storage that's in there."
About 40 units were damaged by the flames and smoke; the initial damage estimate is around $150,000.
Jorge Garcia took pictures of the damage.
"It's pretty bad. All the B section is burned so there's a lot of stuff outside burned," said Garcia.
He said he worried all night that he may have lost everything and feels lucky none of his property was burned.
No one was hurt in the fire. Investigators say an electrical problem caused it and it will most likely be ruled accidental.