Code Violations Lead To 30-Unit Building Shutdown, Forcing Residents Out On Street; Two Fire Inspectors Attacked After Providing Tenants 72-Hour Notice To Pack Bags & Hit The Road

In Miami, Florida, WSVN-TV Channel 7 reports:

• Residents of an apartment building have been forced out of their homes after the structure was deemed unsafe. Code compliance and police officers ordered all residents to evacuate the building located at 971 W. Flagler, Monday morning. City officials said they had given the owner months to get the building up to code. Officials said the building had multiple code violations, and the building is not safe. Officials also said the owner of the building had to hire someone to check the building hourly and keep a log, but when firefighters went by on Friday, they were not satisfied with the logs and closed the building. Everyone was then given 72 hours to leave. Jessica Hernandez said her and her husband have no where to go. "Right now, it's get out and find out what you gonna do," she said. "Nobody has nothing. We paid our rent. Right now, we have nothing, nothing, and we're out. They couldn't even give us enough time, They gave us the weekend. The weekend is nothing," she added as she began breaking down in tears. "There's nothing opening for leasing, and there's nothing open where you can go and rent. Nothing, nothing at all." Firefighters believe, as some of the residents were leaving, they turned their gas on, which caused a very heavy smell. Crews had to shut the gas off to the entire building and close the street. Officials had to wait for the gas level to come back down to normal before they reopened the street and residents could continue moving out. "We have a lot of angry residents out here," said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll. "I don't think they understand that it's not trying to do anything bad to them. It's for their safety alone." According to police, on Friday, when a firefighter went to put a notice on the building he was hit by a car by someone who co-owns a marketplace located at the bottom of the building. That subject was later identified as Brinio Medrano. Police also said Medrano punched another firefighter. From the back of a police car, Medrano professed his innocence. "For what? I didn't do nothing. I didn't do nothing," he said. Medrano was later charged with two counts of battery on a firefighter. Once repairs are made, residents will be allowed back in.

Source:  Residents forced out after building condemned. See also:

• Residents Removed From Little Havana Building (The three-story, 30-unit building has no fire alarm system, has illegal partitions and sewer and electrical issues, officials said. The building's owner has been given months to comply and update the building but so far nothing has been done, officials said)
• 2 Miami Fire Inspectors Injured in Confrontation: Authorities.