State Fire Marshal Deputies are investigating a house fire that claimed the lives of an 89-year-old woman and her 58-year-old son in St. Martinville on Monday morning. While the cause of the fire has not been determined, State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says a space heater could’ve been involved.
“While the exact cause is undetermined at this time it is believed that one of the more likely outcomes is that this fire was caused by an unattended space heater.”
With more people using heaters due to the cold weather, Rodrigue says it’s important to take safety precautions with space heaters.
“When you’re using those space heaters make sure they are three to five feet away from combustible objects like blankets and make sure you turn them off when you leave the room and even when you leave the home of course.”
As of now no smoke alarm has been located in the home, and Rodrigue says a smoke alarm could help save your life.
“Those smoke alarms are critical to letting people in the home know that there’s something wrong and it’s critical for people to have as much time as possible to get themselves out safely.”