Louisiana Tragedy as Older Man Dies in House Fire

Louisiana officials from the State's Fire Marshal's Office are investigating a fire in a home that took the life of an 80-year-old man.

Fire Chief Bryan Adams says that deputies have started an investigation into the mobile home fire that claimed a life on Saturday, March 8.

One of the things that Adams noted as part of the ongoing investigation is that the home was full of lots of clutter.

According to Adams, when the firefighters got to the scene of the fire, they went into the mobile home where the body of an 80-year-old man was found in the hallway of the home.

What started the fire is still being investigated, but they do know that the fire started in the middle of the home.

Adams says, "Clutter is extremely dangerous, especially when it comes to fires."

Why Is A Cluttered Home Dangerous?

Adams says that a home that is full of clutter makes it harder for firefighters to get into the home when they respond.

He says materials caused by the clutter become a tinderbox for the fire to grow, and if you put clutter in front of an exit door then your path to getting free is blocked.

When and Where Did The Fire Happen?

Adams says the Holly Ridge Fire Department was called out to the home at around 4:30 Saturday afternoon to extinguish the blaze.

The home is located in the 400 block of Smalling Road in Rayville.

Because the man's dwelling sustained extension damage, investigators have yet to determine whether there were any working smoke alarms present.

What Does Chief Adams Want Everyone To Know About Fire Safety?

• Make sure that nothing blocks the exits in your home.
• Try to do regular maintenance in your home to declutter as clutter can impede your ability to get out when there is a house fire.
• Make sure your home has at least one working smoke alarm.
• Check the smoke alarms you do have to make sure they are in proper working order.

What Is Operation Save-A-Life?

If you don't have a smoke alarm or you don't have a working smoke alarm, this program, Operation Save-A-Life, can help.

The program helps people get smoke alarms and helps with installation if you are unable to install it.

The program information can be found at lasfm.org.

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