November 13, 2008 - SFD responds to Early Morning Utility Room Fire in North Shreveport

House fire in the Martin Luther King area

This morning at 1:51 a.m., the Shreveport Fire Department responded to a house fire at 1905 Joe Louis Boulevard in the Martin Luther King area. Firefighters arrived on scene less than four minutes after the fire was reported to find flames coming from a window on the south side of the home. Fire crews extinguished the fire in the utility room and attic within ten minutes; the home sustained heavy smoke damage. The occupants escaped unharmed after attempting to extinguish the fire.

According to Fire Investigator Chris Robinson, “the fire was caused when clothes were piled on top of a light weight extension cord that was spliced and connected to a commercial grade extension cord. The homeowner was awakened to find the clothes burning in the utility room and attempted to put out the fire with buckets of water. This fire is considered accidental.”

"Fires can happen at any time. However, by reducing the hazards in your home that can start a fire, you increase your ability to survive a fire" said Fire Prevention Public Educator Derrick Harris. The Shreveport Fire Prevention Division offers the following safety tips to reduce electrical fires:

Safety Tips

•In homes with small children, install tamper-resistant electrical receptacles.

• Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords.

• Only plug one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) into a receptacle outlet at a time.

• Pinching cords against walls or furniture or running them under carpets or across doorways can cause a fire.

• Use extension cords for temporary wiring only.

• If receptacles or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.

• Do not place cloth over a light bulb to diffuse or soften the light. Buying a low wattage or soft white or pastel light bulb can help you achieve this effect without creating a fire hazard.

• Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture.

Call a qualified electrician or landlord if you have:

•recurring problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers

•a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance

•discolored or warm wall outlets

•a burning smell or rubbery odor coming from an appliance

•flickering lights

•sparks from an outlet