April 2, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

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

Weinstock Street Fire Ruled Accidental

■ Injured 9-year slated to go home from hospital today

A house fire yesterday morning at 1932 Weinstock Street that left one child with burn injuries after he could not escape through the home’s burglar bars has been officially listed as accidental by fire department investigators. Investigator Fred Sanders said the cause of the fire was a hot plate being used as a heat source for children sleeping in the front living room of the Allendale home. Apparently the plate ignited a blanket or the couch where it was being used. Within minutes the wood framed home was engulfed in flames.

Nine-year-old Charles Scroggins told investigators that he noticed the fire and became scared, seeking shelter in the home’s bathroom. When the fire intensified, Terry Hayes, 31, the home’s other six children, and Hayes’ mother, Betty Randall, 64, were forced outside of the residence by intense smoke and flames. Hayes heard Scroggins yelling for help but could not locate him inside the home. Once outside, Hayes heard Scroggins screaming from a bathroom. The nine-year-old was trying to escape through the room’s window but could not get through the home’s burglar bars. Hayes was able to force the bars off of the window and pull the child to safety but not before the nine-year-old suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

Scroggins was taken by department paramedics to LSU Medical Center’s Burn Treatment Center. He is scheduled to be released this evening. The home received heavy fire and smoke damage and took firefighters just under an hour to extinguish. ###