A welding business in Medley, Florida, was engulfed in flames and destroyed several vehicles and buildings, killing two people and injuring three more. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue teams were called to the scene on Northwest S. River Drive early on Tuesday morning, responding to a reported explosion at the location.
A fuel truck appears to have been the epicenter of the blaze, with the fire quickly spreading to other nearby structures and vehicles. Crews worked to put out the fire, which was finally extinguished by around 10 a.m. that same morning. Footage from the scene showed heavy black smoke and a massive ball of fire rising from the site.
Despite the fire appearing to be contained to just the one business, several cars were destroyed in the blaze. The aftermath of the incident is being investigated by Miami-Dade police detectives and arson unit investigators. The victims’ identities have not been released.
Five people in total required rescue and medical care, making it a challenging operation for the crews who attended the scene.
Footage taken at the scene showed two bodies covered by yellow tarps, and Miami-Dade police have confirmed that a death investigation is now underway. Two people were taken to a local trauma center, one by air and one by ground, and are said to be in critical condition. A third victim of the explosion was treated at the scene.
Miami-Dade Police Det. Luis Sierra confirmed that investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the explosion.
The welding business, which has not been named in the reports, is located in the industrial district of Medley, an area that is home to a variety of businesses and warehouses.