The first fire fatality in Louisiana for 2022 occurred Sunday night in West Monroe claiming the life of one man and his dog. State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue said that firefighters learned the occupant had initially escaped but re-entered in an attempt to save his pet.
“If you find yourself experiencing a fire emergency the priority is getting out safely. Possessions and of course in this case, even though we love them so much, pets are just not worth losing your life,” Rodrigue said.
Firefighters later located the man’s body in the living room and the remains of his dog in a bedroom. Rodrigue said investigators have not been able to pinpoint an actual cause but have determined where it started.
“It seems to have come from the exterior of the home near the carport and it could be electrical in nature,” Rodrigue said.
Official identification is still pending but it’s believed the victim is the 69-year-old tenant. Deputies didn’t locate working smoke alarms but Rodrigue said even with working fire alarms staying out is of the utmost importance.
“It’s definitely unfortunate as all of our fatalities are but this one in particular hits home a little bit because it is something that we push a lot relative to getting out and staying out,” Rodrigue said
Families in need of a fire alarm can get help through the Operation Save-A-Life program which provides free fire alarm installation through local fire departments.
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