North Lauderdale house fire kills one, hospitalizes child and four adults

A fast-moving house fire in North Lauderdale killed Marieange Therancy and sent a 6-year-old girl and four adults to the hospital after flames tore through a home in the 8000 block of Southwest 8th Court while the family was asleep. North Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived about 5 a.m. and found heavy smoke and a large fire pouring from the residence.

By the time crews brought the blaze under control, six people had been injured. Neissa Dilligence, 6, remained on a ventilator and was in serious condition after the fire. Her uncle, Lloyd Smith, said she was not responsive when rescuers pulled her from the home because her brain had not received enough oxygen. Smith said the family lost everything in the fire.

Neighbors said they saw the flames and moved quickly to help before firefighters reached the home. One resident tried to hose down the fire while others called for emergency help. A nearby father also evacuated with his children as smoke spread next door, underscoring how a house fire on one lot can force surrounding homes into a sudden evacuation. Surveillance video captured the moments when the fire began, adding another piece to the investigation into how the blaze started.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office were still working to determine the cause. For Broward families, the fire is a stark reminder to test smoke alarms, especially before bedtime, and to make sure every sleeping area has a clear, usable exit path. Windows and doors used for escape should open quickly, hallways should stay clear, and families should know how they would get out in the dark if a fire started before dawn.

The loss on Southwest 8th Court left one North Lauderdale family grieving Therancy’s death and another fighting for a child still on a ventilator, while neighbors waited for answers about what turned an early morning fire into a deadly one.