One Woman Escapes and One Dies in Louisiana House Fire Believed to Have Been Caused by Faulty Wiring and Hazardous Heating Methods

Published March 23, 2023

One Woman Escapes and One Dies in Louisiana House Fire Believed to Have Been Caused by Faulty Wiring and Hazardous Heating Methods

Claiborne Parish, Louisiana -One woman was able to escape and one died in a Louisiana house fire believed to have been caused by faulty wiring and hazardous heating methods.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office (LASFM) reported on March 22, 2023, that deputies are continuing their investigation into a house fire in Athens, Louisiana that killed a female resident.

Claiborne Parish Fire District #5 responded to a report of a house fire in the 1800 block of Cook Road at 4:45 a.m. on Monday, March 20. When firefighters came, they found one woman outside who reported a second woman inside. Tragically, the woman’s body was later discovered in the kitchen of the residence.

While the Claiborne Parish Coroner’s Office is still working on official identification and cause of death, the victim is thought to be the 78-year-old homeowner.

Deputies had determined that the fire started in the living room at the time this was published. Authorities have been unable to rule out an overload of faulty wiring as well as hazardous heating methods as possible causes of this fire.

Deputies discovered two women were in the home at the time of the incident, and several space heaters were being used for warmth. Because of previous electrical concerns in the residence, the victim had been checking on the location where the space heaters were connected in on a regular basis. On one of those nighttime checks, the victim realized that a fire had started. She then warned the other woman, who promptly fled the residence, but the 78-year-old did not make it out.

When it comes to electrical safety, the LASFM advises avoiding continued use of appliances or parts of a home with concerning electrical issues until a professional electrician can inspect and remedy any problems discovered. Additionally, avoid using extension cords for lengthy periods of time and be aware of the wattage limitations of those cords and power strips to avoid overloading them, which can lead to overheating and a fire hazard.

Furthermore, even though our state is shifting to spring temps, we are still having cold spells. The LASFM would like to remind Louisiana residents of the following top safe home heating tips:

  • Place space heaters 3-5 feet from combustible objects like blankets and curtains
  • Plug all heating appliances directly into wall outlets, not power strips or extension cords
  • Do not use stoves or ovens to heat homes
  • Don’t overfill fireplaces/wood-burning stoves
  • Do not leave candles/open flames (or space heaters) left unattended
  • Have working smoke alarms in your home

The LASFM also reported that this residence lacked operational smoke alarms. Smoke alarms save lives, and our Operation Save-A-Life program collaborates with local fire departments to install free smoke alarms for families in need. Visit lasfm.org for more information on Operation Save-A-Life or to register for a free smoke alarm. You can also call your local fire station to request a free smoke alarm installation.

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