First Space Heater Tragedy of the Year Burns Down 96-Year-Old Woman’s Home

Every year when the temperatures dip below 50 degrees Miamians freak out. Every year we collectively empty out the space heater isles of our local stores. Every year someone inadvertently ends up burning the house down with that space heater. 2012 is no different.A 96-year-old woman is now without her...
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Every year when the temperatures dip below 50 degrees Miamians freak out. Every year we collectively empty out the space heater isles of our local stores. Every year someone inadvertently ends up burning the house down with that space heater. 2012 is no different.

A 96-year-old woman is now without her home of 40 years after it got badly damaged in a fire.


According to NBC Miami, the woman, Estrella Aviles, had plugged a portable space heater into an outlet that already had too many plugs inserted in it. The overload led to an electric short which caused a fired in another room of the woman’s Little Havana home at 345 Southwest 15th Ave.

The elderly woman’s caregiver discovered the fire, but the woman didn’t want to leave her home until firefighters arrived. So the caregiver began screaming. Luckily a good Samaritan overhead the screams and was able to rescue both women from the blaze.

When news happens, Miami New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.

We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If Miami New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.

$30,000

The house, while not completely destroyed, was deemed unlivable once firefighters extinguished the blaze. Aviles will now temporarily live with her caretaker.

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.

GET MORE COVERAGE LIKE THIS

Sign up for the This Week’s Top Stories newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox

Loading latest posts...