The City of Miami Beach will cancel its planned Fire on the Fourth Festival on July 4 out of respect for the families and victims affected by the tragic June 24, 2021 building collapse in the neighboring Town of Surfside. The outdoor Miami Beach festival was to have been held at 72 Street and Collins Avenue to mark the nation’s 245th birthday.
On Sunday, June 27, 2021 Miami Beach declared astate of emergency relating to the partial collapse of Champlain Towers, steps away from the city’s northernmost border with Surfside. Miami Beach emergency responders were among the first on the scene and have continued to provide ongoing support.
A significant portion of the staging for the emergency response efforts has also taken place within Miami Beach, including the use of city streets, property and other facilities for search and rescue command centers, the use of city parking lots for personnel and equipment as well as the use of city property to support the significant media presence.
The disaster claimed at least 10 lives and left 151 people unaccounted for as of Monday afternoon.