Opa-locka junkyard fire continues to smolder as business owners hope to rise from the ashes: "This is our entire life"

One of the largest fires in Opa-locka history continues to smolder one day after a massive blaze broke out inside a junkyard and spread to nearby businesses, forcing about 125 people to evacuate their homes and reduced structures to rubble.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, more than 80 units responded to reports of several vehicles that were on fire in the 13100 block of Cairo Lane just after 5 p.m. Monday.

"We encountered a large junkyard that was on fire, with heavy winds from a storm had already started pushing the fire westward into a secondary business," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said. "All in all, a total of six business have been impacted."

MDFR said on Tuesday afternoon that Cairo Lane will remain closed through at least Wednesday morning as crews continue battling hotspots. Officials say 13 units are still actively working the scene.

Two junkyards, a trucking company and three small businesses were impacted by the blaze, but no homes in the area were impacted, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Business owners are grieving the loss of their livelihood as they return to the site of the fire 

But business owners that spoke with CBS News Miami said they were devastated as they looked on in horror as flames devoured their livelihood.

"I am really, really emotional," business owner Isela Gutierrez told CBS News Miami. "We have lost our business, family business. We've been here for 35 years."

Gutierrez said she was heartbroken to see her family-run business reduced to ashes.

More than 800 salvaged cars and used auto parts have now been turned into piles of burnt debris.

"This is hard," an emotional Gutierrez said. "It's super hard. It's not just money. This is our entire life here."

Her family's junkyard business was one of the six that was destroyed by the massive fire.

 Thick black smoke filled and eerie orange sky above Opa-locka when the blaze broke out on Monday evening.

At one point, fire crews needed to cut through a business in order to pour water on the flames inside.

Mimi and Fantasma, Gutierez's dogs, were inside the building when the fire broke out. They managed to make it out alive and were reunited on Tuesday morning.

She said she was grateful that no injuries were reported because of the fire, and she's hoping the business can rise form the ashes.

"God is the only one who can help us right now," Gutierez said. "I know He's going to do a miracle for us."

Business owners who CBS News Miami spoke with said that insurance they have for their company don't cover salvaged cars and used auto parts – which is exactly what was destroyed in the fire.

Residents living nearby describe the fear they felt as towering plumes of smoke spread 

While business owners spent Tuesday grieving the loss of family businesses, residents living less than a half mile away described fear, confusion, and a frantic evacuation.

From the third floor of the Providence Apartments, residents watched towering plumes of smoke spread across the Opa-locka skyline.

"It was very scary. We heard a lot of bombs or explosions," said nearby resident Crystal Walker.

MDFR says crews are using heavy equipment to uncover and extinguish hidden hotspots.

"We're using different bulldozers, excavators, in order to find hotspots, and if they were to flare up, the units on scene would put out those flare-ups," said MDFR Chief Ralph Baena.

The fire prompted the evacuation of 125 residents.

Some residents said they initially thought the explosion-like sounds were nothing unusual.

"We thought it was just a regular blow-up because it usually blows up over there," said resident Ja-Mya Adopte. "I thought it was going to be a regular thing but it wasn't."

Residents say Opa-locka police officers went door-to-door ordering people to evacuate immediately.

"You need to leave. You are in danger here," one resident recalled being told by officers.

"So everybody grabbed what they could and we had to go," said Jasmine Siggers.

"It was real hectic. People running out of their doors, packing any little thing that they can," Adopte added.

As flames continued burning, displaced residents were taken to a nearby church, where city leaders and volunteers worked to provide support.

"They were there passing out water. They were giving us food. They were giving us boxes of pizza. They were trying to make sure we was okay," Walker said.

MDFR says air quality remains a concern because smoke is still lingering in the area.

"There is smoke in the area, so please be careful when you drive around this area," Baena said.

Officials say smoke conditions have improved, but they are still urging people to avoid the area and advising nearby residents to stay indoors as crews continue their work.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.