1 killed, 5 injured in explosion at Miami-Dade repair facility

One person was killed and five others were injured when an explosion sparked a fire at a Miami-Dade County repair facility where fire trucks and other vehicles are maintained, according to officials and local media.

The explosion was reported just after 10 a.m. Monday near SW 87th Avenue and SW 61st Street, where Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded and found a large amount of smoke. Deputies began evacuating people in the immediate area.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and pronounced an adult man dead at the scene. Three other men were taken to a local hospital, including a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office lieutenant who was listed in stable condition.

Another man was listed in critical but stable condition, while a third was also in stable condition, according to officials.

A fourth injured man took himself to a hospital and was also listed in stable condition. A fifth person suffered minor injuries but declined to be taken to a hospital, according to WTVJ.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah told the station that crews arrived to find a fire coming from an underground fuel vault at the facility. He said there are three underground vaults and that work may have been taking place at the time of the explosion.

Miami-Dade homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. Fire officials and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the explosion.