Margate House Fire Leaves Child Dead as Investigation Continues

A 12-year-old boy died in a house fire on the 5500 block of Southwest 6th Street in Margate, and officials say the cause is still under investigation, according to multiple reports and family confirmation.

Firefighters said the blaze started in the back of the home, but they have not determined how it began, according to CBS News Miami and Local 10 News. The fire also killed a family dog, while crews rescued at least one other dog from inside the house, city officials said.

Two adult relatives made it out of the home, and one was later taken to a local hospital, according to NBC 6 South Florida. One firefighter’s gear caught fire during the response, but the firefighter was not reported injured, according to Local 10 News.

The home sustained major damage, including heavy charring and a partial roof collapse, according to CBS News Miami and the Sun Sentinel. Officials were still assessing whether the house was salvageable or a total loss, and Florida Power & Light said the fire knocked out power to 13 nearby homes.

Emergency crews remained on scene as investigators worked to determine what sparked the fire. Police and fire officials have not released details on any additional injuries, and no criminal determination has been publicly confirmed.

Dispatch records show there have been 103 similar structure fires in Margate over the past six months.

Day.News will continue to update this story as officials release more information.

Related: Structure Fire Draws Emergency Response to 5531 SW 6th Street in Margate