Elderly Woman Dies In Opa Locka House Fire
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OPA LOCKA (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade fire crews are investigating a deadly house fire in Opa Locka that claimed the life of an elderly woman.
Fire officials said the woman died in the fire located at a home at 2060 York Street on Thursday morning.
"The flames, they were just everywhere, all through the house. I don't understand that," said a witness who identified herself as Angela.
Angela said she was visiting the victim, who she identified as Thelma Williams, just before the home became engulfed in flames.
"Five minutes... I was gone five minutes. How could a house burn up in five minutes," Angela said.
Investigators said the victim was in her late 80s and bedridden.
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"Apparently the location of where the woman laid, she was bedridden, it was difficult to get to her,' said Assistant City Manager of Opa Locka Dave Chiverton.
She lived at the home with her son.
"He stayed there 24/7 ...the best son a mother could have," said Angela.
Friends remember Williams as kind-hearted and describe her as the mother of the neighborhood.
"A pillar of the community you know. Everybody around here knew her. She raised all of us," said Angela.
"She was always kind giving lovely and very humble and sweet," said family friend Reverend David Lennon.
Williams' son was just outside of the home when the blaze broke out, according to investigators. They believe the fire was accidental.
Per a preliminary investigation, officials believe the fire started in the kitchen.
"She will be greatly missed because everyone loved her and we'll all miss her," said Lennon.
