East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana - The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office stated on December 27 that deputies from the State Fire Marshal (SFM) are still examining a fire at a residence in Jackson, which tragically resulted in the death of a woman who was residing there.

The Jackson Fire Department, along with fire agencies from East Feliciana and the West Feliciana Fire Department, as well as the Jackson Police Department and East Feliciana Sheriff's Office, were called to a house fire on Carolyn Sue Drive around 5:15 p.m. on Friday, December 22. A woman's body was later found in one of the bedrooms by the firefighters.

The parish Coroner's Office is still waiting for official identification and cause of death. However, it is currently believed that the victim is a 52-year-old woman who was staying at the home with the tenant who was not present during the fire.

After evaluating the situation and interviewing witnesses, law enforcement officers have concluded that the fire originated in the living room of the residence. Although the investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of the fire, authorities have not been able to dismiss the possibility that an electrical malfunction or unsafe smoking practices may have played a role.

Electric malfunctions are a frequent and potentially lethal cause of fires in homes. However, this hazard can be averted by having a licensed electrician examine and fix any worrisome electrical issues. Furthermore, it is advised by SFM to always smoke outside and make sure that all smoking materials are completely extinguished in suitable containers.

Finally, the deputies were not able to find functioning smoke alarms in the house.

The State Fire Marshal (SFM) aims to emphasize to all Louisiana residents that having smoke alarms can make the crucial difference between surviving or perishing in a fire emergency. If you require assistance in obtaining smoke alarms for your residence, Operation Save-A-Life is available to help. For further information about Operation Save-A-Life or to sign up for a free smoke alarm visit the LASFM website at lasfm.org or get in touch with your local fire department to request a free installation of a smoke alarm.