December 1, 2009 - Early Morning Fire Displaces Family of Seven

A house fire in the 1300 block of Kenneth

This morning at 9:01 a.m., the Shreveport Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1300 block of Kenneth Avenue in the Lakeside community in west Shreveport. Initial fire crews arriving on scene immediately found heavy smoke and flames billowing from the south and east sides of a single-story wood-framed home. It took firefighters fifteen minutes to extinguish the fire; there were no injuries to the family or firefighters.

Fire investigators have determined that the fire originated in the east side bedroom; however, the exact cause of the fire is under investigation. Investigators have confirmed that nearly 50 percent of the home was damaged by fire and is considered unlivable.

Because of the anticipated drop in temperatures, homeowners should be cautious when using supplemental heat sources to keep warm. The Shreveport Fire Department offers the following tips to reduce preventable fires:

Safety Tips

• Have a working smoke alarm in every level of the home

• Develop a home evacuation plan and practice it

• Space heaters should have a three feet clearance of all combustibles

• Never splice an extension cord to add length to the power cord of any appliance or space heater

• Do not overload a circuit and only use extension cords that are rated to carry the amperage load

• DO NOT use electric space heaters in wet areas, such as bathrooms, because of the electrical shock hazard

• If using a gas space heater and you smell a continuous odor natural gas, turn “off” the heater. Call 911 and Center Point Gas

• A fireplace or chimney should be inspected annually and cleaned if necessary

• Furnaces and central heating units should be inspected and serviced by a licensed HVAC technician, annually

• Never use a stove top, oven or range to heat your home; this could produce Carbon Monoxide vapors that can kill