Retired Firefighter Dies in Broward County House Fire

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 15, 2020

In Cooper City, a house fire turned deadly on the afternoon of Saturday, July 11th, after events currently the subject of an investigation resulted in a blaze breaking out at a private residence. What we know so far comes from the Fire Chief with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. This individual told reporters that the incident was first reported at close to 2:00 on the morning of the Saturday in question.

While the fire was reported at close to 2:00 a.m., it is very possible that the spark that caused the event took place sometime much earlier. Authorities stated that by the time they reached the address where the fire was reported, the flames were already well out of control and aggressively consuming the structure.

A neighbor to the home located within the Fort Lauderdale suburb saw the fire and rushed to the scene even before the authorities reached the area. It is possible that this neighbor was the one who notified the authorities in the first place.

This neighbor knew that the occupant of the home, a retired firefighter who worked for many years with the Miami Fire Department, was still within the building and risked their life in an attempt to reach the man and pull them to safety. When the fire and rescue teams within Broward County reached the area, the neighbor had located and pulled the home’s occupant onto the lawn, however by that point the damage that the man suffered was extensive.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency response crews that were on the scene and attempting to revive the retired firefighter, there was nothing that they could do for the individual. The homeowner was declared dead at the scene of the incident. His passing has sent shockwaves through the Miami Fire Department as one of their own has passed after finishing dedicating his life towards fighting the very thing that took his life from him.

The individual was not named in the report, but we do know that they were between 70 and 80 years old. They had retired from the Miami Fire Department many years before they tragically lost their life.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway by the state fire marshal. It is not believed that anyone else was within the home at the time of the fire.

Sources:

• Retired Florida firefighter dies in house fire

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.