Fire Rips Through NW Dade Market
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A fire at a northwest Miami-Dade grocery store has been deem suspicious.
Firefighters said when they arrived at Five Sons Food Market on NW 22nd Avenue and 59th Street there was a strong smell of gasoline in the air. They also noted that the fire had engulfed the floor of the building which is usually a sign that some sort of accelerant was used to start the fire.
In addition to the store, the building also has four apartments; one on the first level and three above it.
Firefighters said there wasn't anyone in the upstairs apartments but the grocery store owner Iyad Awayssa was asleep on the first floor.
Awayssa said he only had time to grab his iPad and run out.
"I heard something like pop, pop, pop and that's what woke me up," said Awayssa. "When I wake up, I see the fire."
Awayssa said he tried to go back but the smoke was too much.
"I tried to go back for the key, but when I come back to open the door, there was smoke inside, I sucked smoke, I opened the door a little bit to breath a little bit, to get some fresh air. The police officer was in the middle of the street and I screamed for help."
Awayssa said he doesn't have insurance and has no idea how the fire started.
In September a fire ripped through another Five Sons Market at 6943 NW 15th Avenue. Awayssa also owned that market but sold it a year ago.
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