Acadia Parish Man Dies in Mobile Home

Baton Rouge LA: State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning released information tonight, relating to a home fire that claimed the life of one man in Acadia Parish.The Acadia Parish Fire District # 3 was dispatched tonight at 7:32pm, to 145 Hackberry Lane in Evangeline Louisiana. When the fire crews arrived minutes later, they discovered a mobile home fully involved in flames. They quickly controlled the blaze in approximately 15 minutes. Firefighters searched and discovered the body of Nathan Melvin Whiddon (dob. 6-16-44) inside the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner. The Coroner will also be performing an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was dispatched to the scene to investigate this fire and resulting death. Investigators have not made any final fire cause determination at this time. The home did have operating space heaters in the area of the fire origin. It is not believed that there were any working smoke alarms at the time of the fire.

Fire Marshal Browning stated, “This is the fourth death in the past 24 hours in Louisiana caused by a destructive fire”. “We must stop this, act now and make sure you have smoke alarms in your home, don’t be the next victim”.