Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Friday morning fire at Miami lumber warehouse injured at least one firefighter as emergency responders battled the flames.
Firefighters were called out to the Little River Building Home Supply, 7737 NE Second Ave., at around 6:06 a.m. There was heavy smoke coming from the building.
No one was inside the building when the fire broke out, however, as firefighters continued to battle the flames, they were forced to evacuate due to structural concerns.
As of 9 a.m., the fire was still burning and additional units were called in for an assist.
One firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken to a local hospital to treat exhaustion and a back injury, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.
The incident will be investigated by the Miami Fire Investigation Unit.
No other injuries have been reported.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & partners is a personal injury law firm with over 48 years of experience representing clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice cases, premises liability cases and other serious matters. In that time, the firm has secured record verdicts and settlements for clients all over the state of Florida. Our dedicated attorneys approach every case with the compassion, skill and diligence necessary to secure the best possible outcome for injured clients.
With a long-standing commitment to justice, Leesfield & Partners has also represented numerous burn and fire victims and their families in the aftermath of tragic, yet preventable, incidents. In Florida, there were 1.6 deaths per every 1,000 fires in 2023, the latest readily available data reported by local fire departments through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). There were approximately 8.9 injuries per 1,000 fires. The national average for all fire casualties was 2.1 deaths per every 1,000 fires and the injury rate was 6.4 injuries per every 1,000 fires, the data showed.
About 58% of deaths happened in structures
Recently, a fire broke out at a Florida Keys boatyard. The blaze damaged at least four vessels. Luckily, no injuries were reported in that incident.
Previous Cases
Previously, the firm handled a case involving newlyweds who were vacationing at a foreign resort on their honeymoon. During the couples’ stay, an improperly capped pipe caused an explosion at their vacation accommodation while they were still inside. Both husband and wife were horrifically burned and sustained multiple painful, life-threatening injuries. Tragically, the wife died as a result of this incident.
Leesfield & Partners secured a multi-million-dollar result for the husband in that case.
Over $2.9 million was secured for a family whose TV set caught fire at their condo, causing a dangerous blaze that claimed the life of their 13-year-old daughter. The father in that case was significantly burned while attempting to save his child.
Earlier this year, Trial Lawyer Eric Shane represented a man who was burned in an electrical incident.
Leesfield & Partners previously represented the family of a mother and her children who were trapped in a house when a fire broke out due to their landlord’s negligence. The fire was caused by a defective electrical outlet. Despite previously notifying their landlord about difficulty opening windows, the issue went unaddressed. On the day of the fire, the mother and children were unable to open the windows to escape the flames.
For a client who sustained significant burn injuries as the result of an accident at a construction site, Leesfield & Partners obtained an $862,000 recovery. In that case, hot tar spilled on our client from an open skylight. This case was handled by the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield.
“Adherence to OSHA regulations as well as state and county ordinances and statutes would have protected these burn victims from the excruciating pain and tissue loss resulting from hot tar being spilled on portions of their bodies,” said Mr. Leesfield.
A six-figure amount was recovered for a client who was at a medical facility for a procedure. While in the operating room, the medical staff negligently burned our client.
One fire case handled by the firm resulted in a $600,000 recovery.
Fire Safety Tips
While there’s no guaranteed way to completely protect yourself or your loved ones from every accident, the tips below may help reduce your reaction time in an emergency. In critical situations, even a split second can mean the difference between life and death. Keep in mind that these suggestions are general and not intended as comprehensive life-saving guidance. For the most accurate and up-to-date advice, please consult your local emergency services or officials.
- Have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home. Smoke alarms can alert you to a fire that may break out in your home and give you time to escape. These alarms should be checked once a month, according to the American Red Cross. Change your smoke alarm batteries regularly.
- Sleep with your door closed. Keeping bedroom doors closed can help deprive the flames of oxygen which the fire will need to spread and can keep you from breathing in smoke from the other side of your door.
- Develop a fire safety plan and discuss it with every member of your family so that they know what to do if a fire breaks out at your home. Every family member should know at least two unobstructed entries and exits from the home including exterior doors and windows. This plan should be practiced at least twice a year.
- Decide on a meeting place that everyone in the family knows about so that, if there is a fire, you know
- Keep a fire extinguisher in places like your kitchen and garage.
- If your clothes catch fire, do not panic and run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground and cover your face with your hands to begin rolling over and over to smother the flames.
- Smoke and hot air rise. If you’re ever in an emergency fire situation it may be best to crawl out to avoid breathing in the smoke. Keep your head 12 to 14 inches from the floor and crawl to the nearest exit.
- If you are ever in a fire emergency, get out and stay out of the house. Never go back inside for personal items or to try and save your home. Call for help immediately and stay back from the flames while you wait for first responders.
