An 84-year-old Folsom woman, who was burning trash piles on her property, has died after being rescued from a brush fire at her home on Sunday. State Fire Marshal’s Office Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says while conducting proactive patrols in St. Tammany Parish looking for burn ban violators, a deputy, and a volunteer firefighter spotted a brush fire off of LA 25.
“As they were working to put the fire out they discovered this woman in the midst of the burn space on the property and stunningly she was still alive.”
The fire spread to a neighboring property but firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. The woman’s husband was at home at the time but did not know what she was doing outside. Rodrigue says deputies believe the woman was burning a debris pile when for an unknown reason she fell.
“We’re unsure of what exactly happened to lead her to fall into the fire but that is exactly what happened until our deputy and that volunteer firefighter came across the fire and they were able to discover here there.”
The elderly female was taken to a New Orleans hospital in critical condition but later died. Rodrigue urges the public that the burn ban is critical
“We need everyone to understand not to utilize an open flame at all, outside, for anything. Because a fire in one space is creating fires in much further places which are then creating these wildfire dangers.”
A statewide burn ban remains active and violators could face civil or criminal penalties.
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