GEM Helps Residents of Miami Gardens Flats Destroyed by Fire Amid Investigation

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida. (WSVN) – A South Florida non-profit is lending a helping hand to nearly 200 people left homeless after a fire destroyed dozens of apartments in an apartment building in Miami Gardens.

7News cameras caught firefighters from the Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Department inspecting the remains of one of the apartments in the New World condominium that was demolished as they tried to determine what caused the blaze.

Volunteers from the Global Empowerment Mission also attended.

“We have towels, blankets, pillows and several vehicles with cash to meet their immediate needs,” said Kimberly Bentley, director of GEM field missions.

On Saturday morning, Miami Gardens Police and more than 40 MDFR units arrived at the scene of a fire in the 39500 block of 177th Street NW.

“We are receiving numerous calls from people who are panicking in the building, it is not known where the smoke or fire is coming from,” the dispatcher said in radio communications.

According to officials, the flames engulfed 75 apartments and collapsed part of the roof.

“My wife was here. I was at work,” said a local resident who identified himself as Antonio.

Dozens of families were forced to leave with nothing but clothes on their backs. Since then, the building has been deemed uninhabitable.

Antonio said that he could not return to his unit to take what he could.

“I have to talk to someone to get us something, I don’t know,” he said.

Antonio was among dozens of residents who returned Sunday to see what they could salvage as they try to reopen.

“Very, very difficult. I need to move, I need to find an apartment for rent tomorrow. A very difficult time,” said Antonio.

Cameras captured Bentley and others with the GEM as they pulled crates of supplies from the truck.

Residents who arrived said they were happy and grateful, and they acknowledged that the outcome could have been much worse.

Fire officials said they suspect repairs to the building’s roof may have started the fire, but the official cause remains under investigation.

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