January 31, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Family Injured: Narrowly Escapes House Fire

A Shreveport family narrowly escaped an early morning house fire that caused heavy damage to their North Highland home at 1116 College Street. Fire communications officers at 911 received the call reporting the multistory, wood frame home on fire at 8:32 a.m. Dispatchers alerted firefighters that there were children in the house on their alarm to the fire stations. When crews arrived, white smoke was pouring out of a side, downstair’s window, of what fire officials now know was the bottom apartment of a duplex structure.

David Reed, 48, wife Anita, 41, and their two children, 3-year-old twins Colt and Kerry, were able to escape the fire before fire crews arrived but not without sustaining smoke inhalation and burn injuries. Anita Wilson stated that the family was still sleeping this morning when she awoke to smoke in the house. She grabbed one of the children, who was asleep in the same room, and rushed to the other bedroom for the other, only to find it engulfed in flames. As smoke and intense heat began to fill the home, the other 3-year-old was found seconds later in an adjacent dining room. The father then entered the room and rushed everyone outside to safety as firefighters were arriving. The family members were rushed to fire department medic units where paramedics treated them for smoke inhalation and burns. David Reed sustained first and second degree burns to his face, back and chest, while the other family members burns were limited to singed hair and minor first degree skin burns. All were transported to the burn center at LSUMC-Shreveport.

When it was clear that all occupants were out and accounted for fire officials initiated an offensive fire attack using a hand held hose line stretched through the back door of the residence. As intense heat barreled from the ceiling of the structure, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control at 8:54. Fire and smoke damage to the structure are listed as heavy. The fire remains under investigation at this hours, although fire investigators have said the origin of the fire appears to be the mattress in the children’s bedroom. David and Colt Reed are listed in serious, but not life threatening condition, at LSUMC-Shreveport’s Burn Unit ICU. Anita and Kerry Reed are listed in fair condition. ###