State Fire Marshal Stresses the Importance of Smoke Alarms Following Five Fire Deaths in Houma
State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams is reminding all Louisiana families about the proven life-saving capabilities of smoke alarms following a devastating fatal fire in the Houma area that claimed five lives and injured an additional victim.
Around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, the Bayou Blue Fire Department responded to a call for a house fire located in the 300 block of Louise Lane in Houma. Unfortunately, firefighters located the bodies of five victims. One victim, a teenage girl, was able to escape and was hospitalized.
While official identifications and causes of death are pending with the Coroner’s Office, the victims are believed to be a 21-year-old male and 20-year-old woman, who were residents of the home, as well as their 3-year-old female child and a 22-year-old man and 16-year-old girl who were visiting the home. The surviving victim was also a visitor.
State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies continue to work to determine the exact cause of this fire due to the challenging extent of damage. Deputies have confirmed that fireworks activity occurred outside of the home in the hours before the fire, however, whether that activity was a contributing factor to the fire is part of the ongoing investigation.
Lastly, deputies have been unable to confirm the presence of working smoke alarms in the home.
“This is undoubtedly a heart-wrenching loss for the loved ones of these victims and this community,” said State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams, “We don’t know what might have made a difference to prevent this fire, but we know in any fire, smoke alarms can give families critical, extra time to escape a fire. Every home should have at least one working smoke alarm protecting them at all times.”
Our Operation Save-A-Life program can help families in need access these devices for FREE. 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.
On Behalf of State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams
Contact Information- osfm.publicaffairs@la.gov