December 16, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

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

Fires mark unofficial start to firefighters busy season

Two fires, one overnight and the other early this morning, are another sign of the beginning of an unofficial season that has firefighters hopping. The first fire started in a back bedroom of an Anderson Height’s home at 9206 Emmet Drive. The call reporting the fire came in just before four at 3:56 a.m. this morning. When firefighters arrived, smoke was coming from the top of the single-story wood frame home. It only took crews about 15 minutes to bring that fire under control. Although the home was inhabited, no one was home at the time of the fire. Investigators are looking into the cause for the fire. There were no injuries.

In the second fire, firefighters were called out to 2403 Creswell Avenue at 8:49 a.m. for a two-story apartment fire early this morning. When the first companies arrived, smoke was pouring from two eaves of the large converted Highland home. "There was so much smoke initially that we could not even see the house," said District Chief Danny Richardson. The sprawling home, which took up every bit of the corner of Creswell Avenue and Dalzell Street was actually three different apartments. Firefighters quickly ascended to the top apartment, which was addressed as 2403 Dalzell, and found thick fire and smoke covering an area of the apartment. They were able to bring the blaze under control at 9:15 a.m.

Five people were in the apartment at the time of the fire but all escaped without injury. Jared Yore, 19, who was in the apartment at the time of the fire, said that he was awakened by an unidentified older man banging on the door. When Yore noticed the smoke and fire he woke the others, who were all able to escape without injury. Yore said the man who knocked on the door to warn them of the fire drove away before fire crews arrived. Fire investigators are looking at an area surrounding a closet in the upstairs apartment as a possible starting point for the blaze but the cause is still unknown.

This time of year, from mid-December to March is traditionally the Shreveport Fire Departments busiest time when it comes to fighting residential and commercial fires. For a number of reasons there is always an increase in fires in and around the home this time of year. The most obvious are heat sources that are not prevalent in the warmer months: here are a few safety tips:

• Residence should be careful when using open-flame gas or kerosene space heaters to not place any combustibles to close to the heat source.

• Do not run cords for heaters under any material, such as a rug. The cords heat up when in use and can start a fire.

• Children should never be left alone in a room with an open flame of any type.

• Heating and air handling units should be checked by a licensed professional.

• Chimneys need to be serviced and cleaned at the start of every winter season.

• All homes should have working smoke detectors and those with gas heat should have a Carbon Monoxide detector. Smoke detectors are free by calling SFD Fire Prevention at 673-6740

• Change out or clean all air intake filters. The buildup can start a fire and cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

• Do not use alternative heat sources, like the stove or candles to heat your home.

• Be careful not to overload home electrical outlets. Overloaded outlets can heat up, short and start a fire.

The Shreveport Fire Department wishes you all a happy and safe holiday and Winter season. ###