MIAMI – An early-morning house fire killed one person in Miami
Firefighters responded to the home along Northeast 82nd Terrace about 5 a.m. Thursday.
Neighbors and family members identified the victim as Dal, an elderly man who lived alone.
Neighbor Fontanis Joseph said the flames quickly got out of control.
"I was sleeping and I see the noise, click, click, click, and when I opened my door, I see the fire is in the back," he said.
Firefighters found Dal unconscious on the floor.
"I noticed an empty stretcher and the fire rescue putting it back into the truck and I kind of put two and two together that he didn't make it," said Joseph.
Neighbors said Dal lived in the house for at least 30 years.
Benito Jacotin, Dal's brother-in-law, said Dal has three children and several grandchildren, adding that his sons live in Boston and his wife is currently on a religious mission.
"My heart is hurting," he said. "I don't know how I'm going to tell her what happened."
The State Fire Marshal is investigating.