Claiborne Parish, Louisiana - The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating a fatal house fire in Homer that killed an 88-year-old woman late Tuesday night.
Claiborne Parish Fire District #6 responded to reports of a residential fire in the 500 block of Liberty Hill Road around 10:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Firefighters arrived to find the home fully engulfed in flames. The homeowner was discovered deceased inside the residence.
Investigators have not yet determined whether the home had a working smoke alarm at the time of the fire. The cause and origin of the blaze remain under investigation by state fire officials.
The State Fire Marshal is using the incident to remind Louisiana residents about the critical importance of maintaining working smoke alarms in their homes.
"Any loss of life in a fire is heartbreaking, especially within our close-knit communities," said DPS Principal Assistant Chief Bryan J. Adams. "We want every family in Louisiana to know that a working smoke alarm can be the difference between tragedy and survival. Through our Operation Save-A-Life program, we're here to help by providing and installing smoke alarms at no cost, because every life matters."
The Operation Save-A-Life program offers free smoke alarm installation to Louisiana residents who need them. The program aims to reduce fire-related deaths across the state by ensuring every home has functioning smoke detection equipment.
Louisiana residents can request a free smoke alarm installation by visiting lasfm.org or contacting their local fire department. The program covers both the cost of the smoke alarms and installation.
Fire safety experts recommend testing smoke alarms monthly and replacing batteries at least once per year. Smoke alarms should be replaced entirely every 10 years, as sensors can degrade over time and become less effective at detecting smoke.
The investigation into the Homer fire continues.