Louisiana Father and Daughter Die in House Fire Caused by Unattended Cooking

Winnsboro, Louisiana - The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office (LASFM) reported on December 30, 2022, that deputies had completed their investigation into a house fire in Winnsboro, Louisiana that killed the disabled homeowner and his adult daughter.

The Winnsboro Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire in the 500 block of Dummyline Road in Winnsboro at noon on Thursday, December 29. When firefighters arrived, they discovered two victims in the home's den area. A woman was discovered near the exit door to the carport, while a male was discovered feet away from a hospital bed near a walker.

“Official identification and cause of death is pending with our office, but we believe the victims to be Harold Peoples, 71, and Lea Ann Peoples, 38, both of Winnsboro," said Shane Scott, spokesperson for the Franklin Parish Coroner’s Office.

LASFM deputies established the fire started in the kitchen and was caused by unattended cooking after assessing the area and collecting witness accounts.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office would like to remind all Louisiana residents of the following important cooking safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove
• Keep cooking environments free of clutter and combustible materials
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove, sharp objects and hot foods and/or liquids
• Avoid cooking when tired, distracted or impaired
• Keep a lid close by in the event a small, stovetop fire occurs that can be smothered by placing the lid over it and turning off the heat
• If an oven fire occurs, turn off the heat and leave the door closed
• When a large cooking fire occurs, get yourself and any other occupants out of the home immediately and call 911 for help

Furthermore, deputies were unable to confirm the presence of operational smoke alarms. Smoke alarms have been shown to be the difference between life and death in a fire. The LASFM's Operation Save-A-Life program collaborates with local fire departments to provide free smoke alarm installation to families in need. Visit lasfm.org to learn more about the program. Contact your local fire station to request a smoke alarm installation.

Related: Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating December 29 Fire that Killed Two