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Firefighters in west Miami-Dade spent an hour battling a spectacular pre-dawn blaze that leveled a two-story home early Friday. The family of three wasn't home, fire officials said. But the family dog Beethoven, a five-year-old Labrador mix, had to be rescued from the burning house. He was later treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters got the call around 3:30 a.m., said Lt. Eddy Ballester, a department spokesman. They rushed to the scene, a large home at Southwest 152nd Avenue and 23rd Lane. While en route, firefighters said they could see 10-foot flames ripping through the roof. ''They knew then they were in for a good fire fight,'' Ballester said. Fearing a family might be trapped inside, the firefighters wasted little time. Their first challenge: breaking through the iron fence that surrounded the home. Once inside,... [read full story]
