PRESS RELEASE

To: NEWSROOM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Assistant To The Fire Chief

November 27 - Shreveport Man Critically Injured in Early Morning Apartment Fire

An early morning apartment fire seriously burned a Shreveport man at the Haystack Apartments, 7000 Fern Avenue . . .

The fire was reported and called into 911 just after 5:00 a.m. (Sunday, November 27) by individuals at the complex who also reported that someone may be inside the residence. When firefighters arrived they found upstairs apartment 152 in building 21 pouring fire and smoke and panicked residents reporting that a man was inside of the burning apartment.

Firefighters made a quick attack rescue and found the man located just inside of the front door of his apartment. He was rescued and treated on the scene by firefighter-paramedics for second and third degree burns to his hands, face, arms and feet. He was transported to LSUHSC for treatment of what were considered critical injuries due to the sustained burns and breathing of super heated gasses and smoke.

Prior to the fire departments arrival Kevin Britt and another unidentified resident of the apartment complex forced entry into the burned man’s apartment after noticing smoke and fire coming from the building’s window. Britt, 32, told fire investigators that he and the other man used a sledge hammer to make entry into the apartment. Once inside they found the burn victim lying face down on the living room floor. They were able to drag him as far as the front part of the apartment before being forced out by intense heat and smoke. Britt also reported that the victim also resisted their help.

The fire itself was quickly contained by the fire department to the lone apartment. It sustained heavy fire and smoke damage, particularly to the front living and kitchen areas. Some smoke damage was reported to adjacent apartments. Those residences were evacuated during the incident but fire officials expected that residence of those apartments would be allowed to return this morning. No other injuries were reported. The official time of extinguishment was 5:40 a.m. Fire investigators are currently on the scene to determine an exact cause of the blaze. ###