No deaths, but 3 families homeless after Fort Lauderdale fire

A fire erupted in a Fort Lauderdale apartment complex last weekend. The good news is that no one died in the blaze. The bad news is that three families, a total of nine people, are now out of their homes.

It’s at times like these that it serves to take stock and be grateful. But at the same time, situations like this mean that the victims face some significant challenges ahead. Hopefully, they all had some form of insurance on their worldly possessions. But as we have noted before on this blog, even that does not guarantee smooth sailing for those affected by such tragedies.

Too often, claims made on insurance policies result in benefits denied by insurance companies. Even if they are not denied, the companies seek to limit their liability by questioning the valuations of items lost. It’s at times like these that an attorneys help may be required to hold an insurer accountable.

The full circumstances of the fire in Fort Lauderdale are still unclear. According to reports, the blaze broke out about 1:30 in the morning last Sunday. Officials say the flames were mainly contained to just one unit in the 10-unit building north of Broward Boulevard and west of Interstate 95. But the effects of the fire were clearly evident beyond the confines of the one apartment.

One complex resident says he was getting panicky as the blaze developed. He described how the whole building was hot and people were screaming and yelling.

Authorities say the fire was put out relatively quickly. As of Monday, though, there was still no word on what caused the blaze. What is known is that the Red Cross has put up the nine people from the three affected families in emergency shelters.

Source: Sun Sentinel, “Fire displaces nine, remains under investigation,” Tonya Alanez, Dec. 1, 2014

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