North Miami, FL - A North Miami family of four and their two dogs narrowly escaped a fast-moving fire that consumed their home early Thursday morning, leaving behind devastation but no injuries.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. at a home located on 144th Street and Northeast 15th Avenue.
Dramatic footage captured the inferno engulfing the structure, with one resident attempting to aid firefighters using a garden hose as flames raged uncontrollably.
Jose Patalano, the homeowner, recounted the harrowing experience, explaining that his wife woke him up as the fire spread.
Together, they managed to escape with their two children and dogs.
However, one of the family’s dogs was initially unaccounted for.
“I was afraid because one of my dogs was missing, and he was in the room. I couldn’t get in because there was so much smoke,” Patalano said.
He described how he shielded his mouth and tried to navigate the heavy smoke, but somehow, the dog made it out safely on its own. “We’re all good, we’re all safe,” he said with relief.
Despite steady rainfall, the fire proved unrelenting, with thick smoke and flames severely damaging the home.
“Destroyed, everything. I mean, ceilings, walls, everything,” Patalano said. “Not everything burned, but the damage from the fire and smoke—it’s everywhere.”
Though the fire left the home uninhabitable, Patalano expressed gratitude for his family’s safety. “It’s only a house. I’ll fix it,” he said.
In Spanish, he added, “I hope insurance covers something!”
After firefighters extinguished the blaze, Patalano returned to sift through the wreckage, hoping to recover essentials.
The emotional toll was evident as he described the heartache of seeing his children upset. “It kills me seeing my kid crying, ‘It’s my house, my room, my everything,’” he shared.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
The family suspects it began in a spare bedroom but are uncertain how it started.
For now, the Patalano family will stay with relatives as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
