One injured in Miami Gardens House Fire. What to Know.

An investigation is currently underway to reveal the cause of a fire that erupted from a Miami Gardens home Wednesday morning, according to local media reporting.

Firefighters were called out to the home near 15221 Northwest 33^rd Avenue around 5:30 a.m.

At least one person was taken to the hospital, possibly to treat injuries from smoke inhalation, according to reporting from WSVN.

Additional information, including whether the home suffered any significant damage, was not immediately available Wednesday.

The fire could have been caused by any number of factors, ranging from faulty electrical wiring to a defective household appliance. However, until the authorities complete their investigation, the exact cause remains unknown. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported. In 48 years of representing victims of fires, burns, and explosions, Leesfield & Partners knows all too well that such outcomes are often far more tragic.

Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami, Orlando and Key West. In nearly five decades of personal injury practice, our skilled trial attorneys have secured numerous record results for injured clients and their grieving family members. In that time, the firm has handled countless cases across Florida and has even had the opportunity to advocate for meaningful legislative reforms at the state level.

Previously, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, fought for the passing of Senate Bill 1822, which addresses carbon monoxide detection requirements in public lodging establishments for the safety of guests and others at these properties.

This bill was essential in adding safeguards to protect people from exposure to carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas that binds to hemoglobin and prevents the body from transporting oxygen. Because its presence is undetectable without a warning device, many people don’t realize they’ve been exposed until it’s too late, often with tragic consequences. In data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, carbon monoxide detectors are estimated to save around 200 lives each year in the United States.

The firm filed a lawsuit that got national attention when a Key West hotel’s damaged roof vent leaked carbon monoxide into the room of an Iowa family. That case was among several in the state that spurred Mr. Leesfield to rally behind Senate Bill 1822, which provides protections related to carbon monoxide in Florida.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning isn’t just a subtle threat; it’s the second most common cause of non-medicinal poisoning death,” Mr. Leesfield and Trial Lawyer Evan Robinson said in a co-authored article discussing carbon monoxide litigation.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that around 400 people die in the U.S. annually from unintentional carbon monoxide exposure. Over 100,000 people are rushed to the emergency room every year for breathing in the toxic gas and 14,000 are hospitalized.

In carbon monoxide cases, the firm previously represented a woman who was exposed to the lethal gas while staying at a foreign resort. The firm obtained over $11 million for the woman in that case.

A confidential amount was secured on behalf of a college student who was exposed to carbon monoxide while staying in a house owned by the university. The cause of the leak in that case was revealed to be an exhaust pipe from the house’s furnace.

Leesfield & Partners has previously represented the victims of fires and explosions who have suffered severe and life-changing injuries as the result of an individual or company’s negligence.

Previous Cases

Leesfield & Partners previously handled a case involving the fire deaths of a mother and her two children. The three had become trapped in a blaze that broke out at their rental home, which 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 and perished.

In an explosion case that started from a spark aboard a cargo ship, Leesfield & Partners secured a substantial award for clients who were badly burned.

For a couple celebrating their honeymoon, what was meant to be the start of their happy life together soon became a nightmare after an improperly capped pipe caused an explosion at their accommodation. Both were severely burned and, tragically, the wife passed away from her injuries.

The firm secured a multi-million-dollar for the husband in that case.

Trial Lawyer Eric Shane represented a client who suffered burns in a recent case, securing a confidential amount.

In an explosion that caused burns, Leesfield & Partners secured a $3.25 million recovery for the injured client.

Leesfield & Partners secured a $2.95 million award for a family who lost their 13-year-old daughter after a TV set caught fire in their home. The manufacturer of the defective television set was named as a defendant in the lawsuit alongside the distributor of a defective smoke alarm and the family’s condominium association, which was named in the lawsuit for safety violations. The father involved in this incident burned over 30% of his body when he tried to rescue his daughter.

A construction site accident that resulted in burns to a Leesfield & partners client resulted in an $862,000 recovery.

In a fire that killed at least one person due to the negligence of a company, Leesfield & Partners secured a $600,00 recovery.

For a patient who was burnt in an operating room due to the negligence of a hospital’s medical staff. Attorneys at the firm secured a $600,000 recovery.

The firm has also handled other cases involving burn injuries to clients including a child who was burned at a neighbor’s home by stew that was cooking on the stove. The child in that case, an 11-year-old boy, sustained second-degree burns to his legs when the improperly installed range tipped forward on him. An investigation by our firm determined that the landlord’s failure to use anti-tip brackets paved the way for the incident to occur.

Leesfield & Partners secured a $300,000 settlement in that case.

Fire Safety Tips

Even the most prepared and diligent families can become the victims of a fire tragedy. No one can ever fully prevent an accident from occurring, however, knowing what to do in case of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death in certain situations by shortening your reaction time. Below are only some fire safety tips that may help you and your family should you ever find yourselves in a fire emergency. This is not an exhaustive list, and everyone should defer to fire personnel and other emergency responders for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Come up with a fire safety plan that everyone in the household can remember. This plan should include a meeting spot that is a safe distance away from the home so that everyone knows where to go once they have escaped in case you are separated by the flames.
Ensure that all smoke detectors are in working order.
Never allow children to play with household items such as matches, candles or lighters.
Educate your family about the dangers of fire
If a fire breaks out in your home, escape immediately and call 911. Never attempt to put out the fire yourself or to
Always keep fire extinguishers on hand near kitchens, outdoor fire pits and barbecues.
Always stay in the kitchen while cooking as stoves that are left unattended can become fire hazards.
Extinguish candles before leaving a room.
Never smoke in bed and keep flammable materials like curtains away from heat sources.
Take a fire safety course with your family to ensure that everyone gets the most up-to-date information regarding fires.