Crews extinguish fire on 68th floor of Panorama

Miami firefighters extinguished a fire Friday on the 68th floor of Panorama Tower, a mixed-use high-rise still under construction at 1101 Brickell Avenue.

No injuries were reported. No construction work was under way when the fire began The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“The fire was easily contained with minimal damage,” Florida East Coast Realty, the developer of Panorama, said in a statement. “Fire investigators told our company that the fire was localized to a single unit on the 68th floor, and we are very grateful for the fire department’s quick response. Our anticipated construction timeline will not be adversely affected in any way.”

Fire crews responded to a 911 emergency caller who reported smoke and flames coming out of the side of the unfinished building shortly before 7 p.m. Friday.

A system to suppress fire already was inplace at Panorama, which allowed firefighters to pump water up to the 68th floor to extinguish the fire.

Fire department spokesman Lt. Ignatius Carroll told the Miami Herald he did not know how much damage the fire caused.

Construction crews were expected to top off Panorama Tower at 83 stories later this year. In February, the project’s general contractor Tutor Perini completed Panorama’s 425,000-square-foot, 2,000-car parking garage.

The design of the mixed-use development includes 821 apartments, 208 hotel rooms, more than 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and a 19-story pedestal with more than 100,000 square feet of medical office space and a teaching facility.

Florida East Coast Realty filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase the height of Panorama’s height from 822 feet above ground to 866 feet.

Even if the FAA denies that request, Panorama would be the tallest residential building on the East Coast south of New York. [Miami Herald] – Mike Seemuth