Fire At Dadeland Capri Condominium!
Categories: Downtown Dadeland, In The News, Real Estate News
hi
Every night before falling asleep, I lay in bed asking God to protect my daughter who does not live at home. I ask Him to guard her and wrap her in his arms and keep her safe. Two weeks ago, on September 27th, I was sound asleep when the phone rang at 12:45 a.m. I jumped out of bed and ran to answer; in my sleepy disorentation there was one thing on my mind, it’s got to be Allison.
She was on the other line. Barely understanding her words, the first thing I heard was “Mom I’m o.k., but my building is on fire”, and started to cry. Then she proceeded to say “The fire is in my room and I see flames coming out of my bedroom window.” My heart sank and all I could say was, “Honey, don’t cry. Daddy and I are coming!
As we drove up U.S.1 by 104th street we could already smell the smoke and watched as fire trucks raced past us in her direction. As I sat in the car all I did was thank God for his mercy and for saving our daughter; it took fifty firefighters to get the blaze under control. As we got closer, we saw that the streets were all closed off. The officers would not let my husband and I get by. I pleaded with them to allow me to pick up my daughter because she has severe asthma and was also sick; the smoke would not be good for her lungs, but they assured me that Fire Rescue was there and they were just doing their job. Being young and daring, my daughter’s boyfriend and his friends found their way to the building and brought our daughter, her dog and her roommate to us. As we waited in front of the Cheesecake Factory at Dadeland Mall the guard became suspicious, as we were the only ones there so late at night. When the girls got out of the car, all they had were the pajamas they were wearing and their purses. Everything else was lost! Their faces wore the reflection of the experience. We brought them home and together we prayed and thanked God that they were home safe.
My daughter had been asleep when the fire alarm startled her and woke her up. She and her roommate grabbed their purses, the dog and ran for the door. When they opened the door the smoke was already in the open hallway and the stairwell.
The fire started on the 2nd floor unit right below my daughter’s. The fire went out of control; it broke out a window and went up the wall, straight into my daughter’s bedroom window. The rest is history.
After surveying my daughter’s apartment the next day, my thoughts were of amazement, confusion, and thankfulness. I was amazed at how fires ravagae and destroy; they are a fast and angry force that will swipe your life if given that extra second. I was confused, wondering why the people who had started the fire waited so long in calling for help. Were they trying to control it themselves or were they too scared? Why did they wait so long and risk the possibility of tragedy? I was thankful that although my daughter’s room was completely charred, she, her roommate and the other 30 displaced people were all okay. I am also thankful that we have angels who are firefighters, who in the middle of the night (while having families of their own) are risking their lives to save others.
Life is fragile and things happen very quickly. I’ve always hugged my kids hard and kiss them alot, I’ve asked them never to go to bed mad for no one knows what the night might bring. For know, I will continue to stay focused not on what could have been, but on what is. I will forever be grateful to our Father in heaven for his mercy and for having brought my daughter out of this experienced unscated by nature’s fury. He continues to show me that even though I think I’m in control, He is ultimately the one in control.
Carina,
I’m so glad that your daughter, her roommate and the others are safe! What a terribly frightening experience! Did the apartments all have smoke detectors?
I’m so happy to hear that your daugheter,her roomate and the dog are all safe.
OMG!!! I don’t know you, but I am a mommy of two who are both away to college and I am alone for the first time (empty nester). I don’t think negegative thoughts so as to not attract them, but like you, I pray every night for God to keep my children safe, as mysef. I can only imagine what you, your husband, and the girls must have gone through. Anything can happen any time, and if it were to happen to me, no one would ever know since I live alone. So glad to read that you are all fine! God bless!!!
Your kids are blessed to have a mom like you who assures them of her love everyday. It’s because of your affection that they will persevere through life’s challenges. I’m happy to hear that everyone’s okay.