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Mother Killed In North Miami House Fire Despite Screams For Help From Son

NORTH MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A house fire in North Miami turned early Tuesday morning early.

A 54-year-old woman who was hospitalized following the fire has died at the hospital, according to a North Miami Police Department spokesperson.

The fire broke out at a home on NW 120 Terrace near 1st Avenue with three people inside.

Neighbor Bethsie Laforsse called 911.

"Then suddenly I heard a noise like the young guy was calling for help like 'my mom is inside, my mom is inside, my mom is inside'," she told CBS4 News.

The screams for help came around 3:30 a.m.

"He was screaming, 'my mom is inside' and then I was screaming 'neighbors wake up, there's a fire, fire," she said.

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A young man and his grandmother were able to escape the burning home and were treated on the scene. However, the flames trapped the 54-year-old mother inside.

"I didn't know what was going on, but I see the smoke and then I go grab my mom and my son and call 911," said Laforsse.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews rushed the mother to the hospital where she later died.

"She's quiet, never have a disagreement with anyone. Go to work, come home, go to work, come home," said Laforsse who added she's lived next door to the victim for more than a decade.

Police have not released any other information about the woman or whether she died from burns or smoke inhalation.

The neighbor, Laforsse, said she heard an electrical outlet might have been what sparked the fire but the official cause is still under investigation.

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