A Miami Gardens man says he’s grateful he’s alive after a fire tore through his house Friday afternoon.
Edward Brown Jr. has lived in his home and community for nearly 60 years.
“That’s all I have right there,” Brown said.
Brown said was about to start cooking and went outside to talk with his son. He thought everything was fine.
“He said, daddy, what are you cooking in there?” Brown recalled. “I thought I turned the burner off. When I went to the door, it was too much smoke.”
Brown, his son and his neighbor tried to tackle the fire with hoses before firefighters showed up.
Ronald Rodriguez, who lives next door, said his dad tried to help their neighbor.
“He went to the back, and he’s trying to help, he’s trying to put the fire out himself,” Rodriguez said.
Flames tore a giant hole through the roof. Firefighters eventually put the blaze out.
“No, I wasn’t really scared, thank God I wasn’t scared,” Brown said.
While he lost his things and everything that he had, Brown is thankful because he knows his story could have ended differently. He said he was also grateful for his family and community, who he’s surrounded himself with for so many years.
“That’s what kept me under control, other than God, everybody was concerned, and I want to apologize, I didn’t mean to stir up the neighborhood like that,” Brown said.
The Red Cross was at the home to assist Brown.