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Adults, Children Displaced Due To Blaze At Miami Complex

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Ten people, including four children, were displaced after a fire broke out inside their Miami apartment complex.

Chopper4 was over the scene as large plumes of smoke billowed out two of the five units in the complex near NW 7th Ave and NW 3rd Street around 9 a.m. on Monday.

Dilsia Sarmiento says she was sleeping when she smelled the smoke. She says she quickly got out of bed to run outside and saw flames coming from her neighbor's apartment.

Fortunately, the woman who lives there with her three children were not home. She then called 911.

Firefighters were seen trying to control the fire at the complex that had barred windows.

"When the fire department arrived they can see heavy smoke from the distance and flames from two of the units. They made entry, knocking the fire down and made an intense search to make sure that everybody was out," said Capt. Ignatius Carroll Jr. with City of Miami Fire.

They were finally able to put out the blaze but not without some casualties.

While all residents evacuated in time, two cats died due to the fire.

Rescuers were seen trying to revive the cats after they were pulled from one of the units.

"Firefighters tried their best to resuscitate the cats with oxygen and CPR but were unsuccessful," said Carroll Jr.

Angel Rodriguez lives in one of the apartments. He was not home when the fire started but his cats were. He says they've been living with him since they were kittens. He is heartbroken over their loss but grateful for rescue crews efforts.

"It goes to show that every life matters. These animals inside deserved a fighting chance," said Carroll Jr.

Fire officials say no one was inside any of the units at the time the fire broke out.

As for damage, the blaze damaged the two units and left smoke damage in the other three.

The Red Cross is helping residents who live in the complex.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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