Fire Slows Efforts At FL Condo Collapse, 4 Dead, 159 Missing

Miami FL

26 June, 2021

11:51 AM

Description

SURFSIDE, FL — A deep fire at the site of a 12-story condo in Surfside that partially collapsed two days ago has hampered search-and-rescue efforts to find victims in the rubble, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a Saturday morning news conference. Though teams worked overnight Friday, no further victims have been found at the oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo, which was located at 8777 Collins Ave., she said. This means the numbers remain the same: four confirmed dead, 159 people unaccounted for and 127 accounted for. The "very deep fire" has made it "extremely difficult to locate the source of the fire," the mayor said. "They've been working around the clock…under the rubble to fix this problem so they can get on." It's been difficult to isolate the fire's source and stop it, Levine Cava added, noting that "the smoke, itself, is the biggest barrier." First responders have been using infrared technology, foam and water to try to contain the fire and to prevent the smoke from spreading. Shifting debris caused the fire to break out Thursday afternoon. It was extinguished within 20 minutes, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said. The fire reignited overnight. Also on Friday, a team of scientists and engineers from the same federal agency that investigated the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11 arrived in Surfside, the Miami Herald reported. The team's goal is to determine whether to launch a full investigation into the condo's collapse and also determine what exactly went wrong. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, a sub-agency of the Department of Commerce, usually investigates disasters that result in a "substantial loss of life," a spokeswoman told the Herald. Meanwhile, three bodies were pulled from the rubble overnight Friday. Though the dead haven't been named publicly, yet, the family of Stacie Fang identified her as one of those killed in the building collapse. Fang's son, 15-year-old Jonah Handler, was pulled alive from the disaster, the Miami Herald reported. "There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Stacie. The members of the Fang and Handler family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy, compassion and support we have received. The many heartfelt words of encouragement and love have served as a much needed source of strength during this devastating time," the family said in a statement. Levine Cava called for "a full and thorough investigation" of the Champlain Towers collapse. In the meantime the county's Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources will launch an audit of all county building 40 years and older. "We want to be sure every building has completed their recertification process," the mayor said. The county will work with building owners to remediate any issues that were documented during that process. Extra scrutiny will be given to all buildings by the same developer at Champlain Towers and safety inspections will be conducted, she said. There is a sister building to Champlain Towers from the same developer in Surfside. Gov. Ron DeSantis also said that an evacuation of this building is being considered. Champlain Tower was built in 1981 by the late Miami Beach developer Nathan Reiber, according to The Real Deal. The town of Surfside has released all records related to the condo tower, including its preliminary review plans. These documents can be found here. To assist residents and families affected by the building's collapse, a hardship fund, SupportSurfside.org, has been established. The Coral Gables Community Foundation, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation and The Miami Foundation are working together to handle the fund, which is taking donations through the website. Another fundraiser has been set up by The Shul of Bal Harbour through an online fundraising tool, The Chesed Fund. With a goal of raising $1 million, so far more than $680,000 has been donated. A family reunification center has been set up at 9301 Collins Ave. for anyone seeking unaccounted for or missing relatives. Those with family members who are unaccounted for or are safe are asked to call 305-614-1819 to account for them. To report a missing person or fill out a wellness check form for residents of the condo building, visit www.miamidade.gov/emergency. See Related Stories: Family Identifies FL Condo Collapse Victim, 4 Dead, 159 Missing5 Things To Know About The Surfside Condo Collapse2 Chicago Men Among Those Missing In Florida Building CollapseCondo Collapse: FIU Professor Found Surfside Building Had Been Sinking For DecadesCondo Collapse: Champlain Towers In Surfside Was Due For 40-Year InspectionCBS4's Eliott Rodriguez One On One With Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzFormer Miami-Dade Fire Chief Dave Downey On Rescue EffortsPresident Biden Declares State Of Emergency In Florida After Surfside Condo Collapse