A massive three-alarm fire broke out Monday morning at a Miami apartment building and a building employee was found shot to death at the scene, officials said.
The fire at the Temple Court Apartments broke out around 8:15 a.m. and is still burning, Miami firefighters said shortly after noon.
“Upon arrival, several residents were rescued and evacuated,” Miami Fire Rescue said in an article on X.
Many of the building’s residents are seniors with mobility issues and had to be rescued from their balconies, NBC Miami reported. The fire broke out on the third floor of the building.
More than 70 firefighters and 38 fire trucks were at the scene of the ongoing blaze as of 10:25 a.m., Miami Fire Department spokesperson Iggy Carroll told NBC News.
Several patients were victims of the fire, including two firefighters who were taken to hospital for heat exhaustion and one resident.
Firefighters also found a person with a gunshot wound when they arrived on scene, according to Miami Fire Rescue. Temple Court Management identified the person as one of its employees, NBC Miami reported.
“We are still determining the cause of this incident and are looking for additional injuries. Police are investigating and we will assist in any way we can,” Temple Court Management told the media outlet. “We are saddened by everything that has happened. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with our team member, his family and the residents of the Temple Court community.
It is unclear where the individual was found, or whether the injury was self-inflicted. or if the incident is related to the fire.
Video from the scene shows smoke billowing from the building as firefighters attempt to put out the blaze from the outside.
Miami police are on scene to assist with the fire and have warned residents not to enter nearby Lummus Park “to avoid potential damage.”
The cause of the fire is unclear at this time.