One Dead In Little Havana House Fire

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - One man is dead after a house fire in Little Havana.

Miami Fire Rescue said just after 2 a.m. they received a call about smoke and flames coming from a home on SW 4th Street off 23rd Avenue.

"When we arrived on the scene we encountered heavy smoke and flame conditions from the rear of the property and immediately upgraded the call to a Code 1 fire requesting additional units and resources," said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez.

Neighbors let them know that an 84-year-old man lives there and rescue crews made their way inside.

"When we made entrance in the back, the fire and conditions were very intense. The fire was under control in 10 minutes. In our primary search we encountered there was a victim inside the house," said Sanchez.

The man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he died. Friends and neighbors are heartbroken.

"It's very sad, I'm in shock," said neighbor Alicia Godoy Giro.

She said she's known him for years and can't believe he's gone.

"My friend was a wonderful person and I would see him all the time. His wife died recently and I was with him, as a neighbor. Every now and then I would bring him food and he was a wonderful neighbor for over 50 years," said Godoy Giro.

A firefighter was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.