Residents of a Miami Shores nursing home were evacuated after a fire broke out Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported just before 5 a.m. at the Sinai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 201 Northeast 112th Street, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said.
Heavy smoke was reported at the center when firefighters arrived and 51 patients were evacuated, officials said.
"I was scared but I knew that I was in good hands," patient Jean Smith said.
Some patients were seen laying on hospital beds and sitting in chairs across the street from the center.
The fire was quickly extinguished and was contained to just one room, officials said. Crews reported finding a mattress on fire and were able to remove it before the fire spread, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Arnold Piedrahita said.
"Fortunately for the residents and the people here, the fire engine closest in this territory was coming back from a call so they were able to respond within seconds to this fire," Piedrahita said.
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Two people were hospitalized with possible smoke inhalation. Piedrahita said more could be transported for stress.
"We expect more to be transported throughout the day based on the stress they suffered in the whole evacuation process because some of these patients are delicate and are very elderly and on oxygen machines," he said.
Patients were later let back into the center. It was unknown how the fire started but investigators were heading to the scene to determine the cause, officials said.
Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.
