A fire at a hostel in Miami Beach forced guests out of their rooms and left almost 100 people impacted on Monday evening, according to the city’s fire department and the Red Cross.
Firefighters fought the flames on the second floor of the hostel at 236 9th Street on South Beach at around 5 p.m.
Video shows the fire popping out of the window.
“I was sleeping in my bed, and then suddenly I heard someone say, ‘Fire, fire, fire, get out!’ And then I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” guest Alistair Lau said. “And then, I immediately get out… and the whole walkway is just like, full of smoke.”
Lau recalls struggling to breathe as he made his escape.
“I barely make it out to the exit, which is scary,” he said.
Fortunately, Lau and the scores of other guests staying at the hostel were not hurt.
The fire was contained to the second floor, and no injuries or transports were reported, the Miami Beach Fire Department said.
Lau said he is a university student who always wanted to visit Miami, and he had been staying at the hostel for about two months.
“I’m just lucky to be alive, to be honest with you,” he said.
The Red Cross said it helped coordinate emergency aid to 98 people impacted by the blaze, and Lau said he was one of them.
The hostel manager told NBC6 that about 60 people were staying here when the fire broke out, and that all of them will receive an automatic refund through their online booking portal.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.
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