The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating five fatal home fires that happened over the past five days.
The fires come after the state is experiencing dry weather, prompting the fire marshal to enact a statewide Burn Ban.
The first fire occurred on Friday, February 11, in Bossier City. Around 1:40 a.m., the Bossier City Fire Department responded to the 1700 block of Alison Avenue for a report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters learned there had been two occupants in the home at the time of the fire; a 48-year-old woman and her 15-year-old grandson. Both had initially escaped safely. However, firefighters learned the woman went back inside to try to rescue pets and never reemerged.
The teen was treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation after returning to the home to save his grandmother. The investigation into the cause of this fire is ongoing.
The second fire was reported to the Ferriday Fire Department around 2 a.m. on Saturday, February 12 in the 600 block of Maryland Avenue. Firefighters discovered the body of a 61-year-old male resident in a bedroom of the mobile home. Following an assessment of the scene, SFM deputies have been unable to rule out the possibility of an unattended space heater as a potential cause.
The third fire happened Sunday, February 13, in the 1300 block of Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans. The New Orleans Fire Department reports that a 65-year-old female resident died in that fire. SFM deputies are assisting NOFD with their investigation into the cause of this fire, which is ongoing at this time.
The fourth fire occurred in the City of Kenner on Valentine’s Day. Firefighters were called to a garage fire located in the 100 block of Holy Cross Place just before 1 p.m. Firefighters rescued an 81-year-old man from a fire inside of the home’s detached garage and were taken to an area hospital where he later died.
At this time, deputies are unable to rule out the possibility of unsafe smoking practices as a contributing factor to the cause of the fire.
The last fire occurred in Leesville around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 15.
Firefighters responded to the 3800 block of Camp Baker Road for reports of a mobile home fire. There were two occupants in the home at the time of the fire; a husband and wife. Deputies learned the female resident was able to escape after attempting to rescue her 65-year-old husband. While the woman was hospitalized for injuries sustained during that rescue attempt, unfortunately, her husband died on the scene. The investigation into the cause of this fire is ongoing.
“Our hearts absolutely break for the families suffering these losses of life because they are so preventable,” said Browning.
“Again, we’re seeing an uptick in tragedies associated with home fires when outside temperatures drop,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “We need families to be aware of the fire hazards in their home and take steps now to mitigate or eliminate those hazards to avoid not only a fire in the home but the severe injuries and deaths we see result from home fires.”
