Miami Bakery Rocked by Blast

Sept. 15, 2006
A firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

A series of explosions sparked a fire that destroyed Roma Bakery in Little Havana overnight Wednesday.

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Miami fire officials said the fire started at the bakery on Southwest Eighth Street and 49th Avenue just before midnight.

"Speaking to the owners, they were operational as usual, started to close up about 10 or 10:30, locked up everything and went home at about 11 o'clock," said Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire Department. "Forty-seven minutes later, they get a call that their establishment is on fire."

The Miami Police Department's bomb squad was called to the scene because several explosions were reported before the fire started.

"Just a few minutes before we got here, several small explosions were heard and then one loud explosion was heard," Carroll said. "This explosion was so great that it actually blew the frame of the windows and the door of the bakery away from the structure."

It is believed that a gas leak is to blame, but the investigation continues.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation but no other injuries were reported.

"This fire was a very hot fire. It took us about 20 minutes to get this fire under control," Carroll said. "Our main concern was that this was inside a plaza. There are several other businesses here. We wanted to make sure this fire did not spread to those businesses."

Meanwhile, workers at the bakery told NBC 6 that the business had been open for more than 40 years.

"Forty-four years of coming here every day. It makes you feel bad," said Victor Rodriguez.

Copyright 2006 by NBC6.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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