Firefighters with St. Tammany Fire District #1 battled a fire where four people have died.
It happened Wednesday morning on Constellation Drive in the Eden Isles Subdivision in Slidell.
“We ask you to please pray for the victims and their family members! The fire is out and the cause of the fire is under investigation at this time,” said St. Tammany fire officials. The parish coroner says the possible cause of death was due smoke inhalation.
“It is a tough day, I’ve been here 34 years, and we have not lost a family like this in a residential fire like this in my 34 years,” said St. Tammany Fire Protection District No.1 Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann.
St. Tammany Coroner Dr. Charles Preston identified the people killed in the fire as Phoenix Lousteau, 33; her husband Stephen Lousteau, 40; and their daughters Payton Lousteau, 5, and Mackenzie Lousteau, 10.
Dr. Preston also says the intense smoke may be the cause of their death but an autopsy will be done to determine the actual cause of death.
“From our early investigation it does not appear these were thermal injures that caused the death,” said Dr. Preston. “Given the scene, the appearance of the bodies, the soot around the face, this is most likely going to be an inhalation.”
“This is an unprecedented tragedy that affects our entire community,” Dr. Preston said. “Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, firefighters report the home had no working smoke detectors. I cannot adequately emphasize the importance of smoke detectors and general fire safety, particularly during winter months.”
