See symbolic flame extinguished on anniversary of recovering the last Surfside victim
A year after recovering the last victim of the Surfside tragedy, a symbolic torch that burned in remembrance of the 98 people lost last year when their 12-story beachfront condo collapsed has been extinguished.
The torch was lit on June 24, 2022, to mark a year since the building collapsed. It burned for more than three weeks — the time it took to recover the last victim, Estelle Hedaya.
Families, loved ones, Miami Dade Fire Rescue, and Miami Beach officials gathered at Surfside Veterans Park to extinguish the flames Wednesday evening.
As MDFR Deputy Chief Ray Jadallah put out the torch, the group gathered closer for a moment of silence.
For some there, the ceremony meant a moment of peace within the process of grieving.
Greylin Quelliz was there with Chris Afonso, the pair standing off to the side, watching the ceremony behind many others.
“It’s the most sentimental thing before everything is resolved,” said Afonso.
Afonso and Quelliz were Champlain residents when much of the building crumbled — and were on the seventh floor the night it happened.
“Never take life for granted. ... Appreciate the small things,” said Afonso. “You never know when you’ll open your eyes again.”
The couple had been close to two of the people lost in the collapse.
“They will always be remembered and loved,” said Quelliz.
David Karp and his wife, Hillary, were nearby residents, who knew Brad Cohen, who died along with his brother Gary on June 24.
Hillary Karp volunteered with the Red Cross, comforting Cohen’s daughter Elisheva.
“She would take the little girl and try to get her mind off things,” said Karp, whose wife would do watercolor painting with Elisheva.
Though the flame was extinguished, many people present understood that both the memories of those lost and the process ahead of them would go on.
“[The ceremony] is to bring healing,” said Jadallah to the Herald. “Not to say we’ve even completed the process.”
For the heroes who helped with recovery, the ceremony was more than just putting out a fire.
“Those 98 names became very personal,” said MDFR officer Erika Benitez. “Names we’ll never forget.”
Though the community is still navigating the balance of grief and healing, those present hope the flame that burned for the symbolic time will pay homage to both the victims and their loved ones.
“Twenty-seven days that so many people came together around the clock to help our community in those recovery efforts,” said Vice Mayor Jeff Rose in a speech. “Each of those 98 lives lost will not ever be forgotten. We hope that this symbolically helps continue to honor their memories.”
