The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a fatal fire that resulted in the death of a mother and her seven-year son. The blaze took place last night in the Red River Parish town of Coushatta. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the cause of the fire could be heating-related.
“We’re focusing on an electric space heater as a possible cause,” said Browning.
The fire occurred at a former commercial bank building turned into apartments. Browning says they suspect there were no working smoke alarms because it appears the victims never had a chance to escape.
“There is a strong indication that they were sleeping and perhaps did not wake up in enough time to escape and that leads us to believe there may not have been working smoke alarms,” said Browning.
Browning says the investigating is ongoing. He says we are looking at another cold night tonight, so he asks that if you are using a space heater, turn it off before you go to bed.
“We recommend that you keep a three to five-foot area free around the space heaters, you plug those heaters right into the receptacle, don’t use extension cords, ” said Browning.
