Home Fire Safety Stressed Following Two Fatal Fires

BATON ROUGE- State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams is reminding Louisianans about safe smoking and heating practices following two home fires over the weekend that sadly each resulted in a loss of life.

Around 10 a.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024, the Ouachita Parish Fire Department responded to a call for a mobile home fire located in the 800 block of Claiborne Road in Calhoun. Unfortunately, the body of who is believed to be the 63-year-old homeowner was found in a bedroom. After an initial investigation, deputies determined the fire began in the room where the victim was found and was likely caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Then, on Saturday, January 27, just before 5 p.m., the Savage Forks Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire in the 200 block of Kyle Lane. Again, firefighters unfortunately found the body of who is believed to be the 73-year-old male resident in a bedroom. After an initial investigation, deputies determined the fire began in the area between the living room and the room where the victim was found. Deputies have been unable to rule out unsafe heating practices as a possible contributing factor.

“These two cases are especially tragic because their suspected causes are some of the most preventable kinds,” said Adams, “We hope everyone joins us in not only keeping these families in their thoughts today but also keeping our home fire safety tips on the top of their minds every day.”

The top safe smoking practices include:

• Always smoking outdoors

• Fully extinguish and discard smoking materials in appropriate containers

• Keep all smoking materials and flame-producing items, like lighters, out of the reach of children

Regarding home heating safety, if using a space heater, keep the devices 3-5 feet away from flammable items like blankets and comforters. In addition, plug space heaters directly into wall outlets as opposed to extension cords and power strips that can overheat and spark a fire.

Lastly, there were no working smoke alarms in either of these homes. Chief Adams wants to remind Louisiana residents that smoke alarms have proven to be the difference between life and death in a fire emergency. If you need assistance obtaining smoke alarms for your home, Operation Save-A-Life can help. To learn more about Operation Save-A-Life, or to register for a free smoke alarm installation, visit our website at lasfm.org or contact your local fire department to request a free smoke alarm installation.