
Louisiana Tragedy: Woman Dies in House Fire Likely Due to Trying to Heat Home
A terrible tragedy unfolded in Louisiana Tuesday as a woman succumbed to a house fire, according to the Office of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams. According to him, a 90-year-old man made it out of the burning home, but try as he might, he could not get his 65-year-old disabled adult daughter out of the home before the structure was engulfed in flames.
According to officials, the investigation into what started this fire is still ongoing. Still, Adams says there is concern that a space heater plugged into a power strip was too close to flammable objects. He says they suspect that could be the cause of the blaze that claimed her life.
Adams says investigators did find that the home had working smoke alarms, but he says the victim's mobility issues were a deterrent to her ability to escape her Franklinton home.
What Should Not Be Done To Heat Our Homes?
As cold weather will be with us for several more days, Adams has several suggestions regarding what not to do when trying to heat your home:
- Do not plug space heaters directly into the wall socket
- Don't use an extension cord or power strip to power your space heater
- Don't let a space heater be close to anything flammable, like blankets or furniture
- Do not place a space heater within five feet of anything flammable
- Never use an oven or stove to heat your home
- Never leave any open flame, like a fireplace or candles, unattended
What Can You Do If You Don't Have A Smoke Alarm?
In the state of Louisiana, there is a program called Operation Save-A-Life, which aims to help get smoke alarms into homes. Earlier this month, Lowe's and First Alert made a huge donation to the state of Louisiana.
You can visit lasfm.org or call your local fire department to schedule a free smoke alarm installation. You can also visit the website to find out more safety tips.
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