Elderly Louisiana Man Dies in Apartment Fire, Unsafe Cooking, Heating, Smoking, and Inappropriate Electrical Use Suspected as Possible Causes

Natchitoches, Louisiana - An elderly Louisiana man died in an apartment fire. Authorities suspect unsafe cooking, heating, smoking, and inappropriate electrical use as Possible Causes

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office (LASFM) announced that deputies continue to investigate a Natchitoches, Louisiana apartment fire that resulted in the death of a male tenant.

Thursday, February 9, at around 5:30 p.m., the Natchitoches Fire Department was dispatched to the 1300 block of Washington Street for a reported apartment fire. Tragically, the lone occupant's body was located by the fire department on a bed in the only apartment affected by the fire.

While formal identification and cause of death are pending an autopsy by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner's Office, it is suspected that the victim is the 71-year-old apartment's occupant.
LASFM deputies discovered that other residents of the apartment complex smelled smoke and heard a smoke alarm, but when the smoke persisted, they contacted 911. Inside the impacted apartment, deputies discovered a space heater near the bed that was powered by an extension cable, as well as a number of hot plates that looked to be in use at the time of the incident.
At this moment, the origin of the incident is still unknown due to the inability to rule out a number of probable variables, including unsafe cooking methods, unsafe heating practices, unsafe smoking behaviors, and inappropriate electrical use.

Deputies confirmed the presence of a smoke alarm in the impacted apartment, however, they were unable to establish whether this was the alarm that other occupants reported hearing at the time of the fire.

While the cause of this incident is still being examined, the LASFM would like to underline the significance of fire safety knowledge and prevention once again. Place space heaters 3 to 5 feet away from flammable materials such as beds, and plug any heating appliances directly into wall outlets instead of power strips or extension cords. In addition, never cook while fatigued, distracted, or intoxicated, and always smoke outside, where cigarette waste should be thrown away properly.