February 9, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Child Still Critical After Friday House Fire

Two fires across the street from one another unrelated

A 10-year-old is still in critical condition following a fire that partially destroyed a home at 1401 Camille Street last Friday. Shreveport firefighters were called to the Cedar Grove residence at 8:49 p.m. and found the front of the home in smoke and flames. Mary Spearman, 54, was at home with five grandchildren at the time of the fire. All were able to escape before fire crews arrived, except for the 10-year-old. When firefighters arrived, Spearman told them that one of the children was still inside. Firefighters found her minutes later, face down in a back bedroom. She was treated and rushed by fire department paramedics to LSUHSC Burn Treatment Center. Fire Investigators have determined the cause of the fire to be a six-year-old playing with matches. Investigators list the fire damage as heavy and dollar loss at $15,000.

Ironically and in an unrelated incident, the home that called 911 to report the fire at 1401 Camille the night before, became engulfed in flames the next morning at 10:41 a.m.(Saturday). The residence, 1330 Camille Street, was directly across the street from the previous fire. When crews arrived at 1330 Camille Street the roof of the residence was billowing black smoke and fire could be seen coming from the eves of the home. The residence was occupied at the time of the fire but everyone was able to escape unharmed. Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was the interior piping used for the home’ s fire place came into direct with combustible materials in the residence’s constructions and initiated the fire. The fire almost completely destroyed the entire roof of the home. Damage estimates are listed at $20,000. ###