March 14, 2010 - Shreveport Fire Department Responds to Four Unrelated Fires Early Sunday Morning
3 Residential and 1 Senior Care Facility Fires

Between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., the Shreveport Fire Department was busy tackling three residential fires and one nursing home fire in various parts of the city.

Fire Timeline:

At 3:05 a.m., the first fire was reported at 2604 Meriwether Road in West Shreveport. Engine Company 15 arrived on scene within five minutes to find heavy smoke and flames extending 15 feet above the roof. It took 6 crews—17 firefighters—30 minutes to control this fire. Fire investigators have determined the fire originated in the kitchen damaging nearly 45 percent of the home. This fire remains under investigation. The family escaped without injuries; however, the family pet died in the fire.

At 3:18 a.m., a second fire was reported at Heritage Manor Westwood Nursing Home located at One Westwood Park Circle in West Shreveport. Engine Company 16 arrived on scene at 3:24 a.m. to find smoke coming from a locked laundry room. After gaining entrance into the room, the fire was extinguished in a commercial dryer. It took fire crews over thirty minutes to control the fire. Fire officials have classified this fire as accidental.
Nursing home attendees safely and quickly moved residents to another part of the facility until the fire department resolved the situation.

At 3:31 a.m., Shreveport Firefighters were dispatched to house fire at 533 Dalzell Street in the Highland Community. Engine 7 arrived on scene at 3:35 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming the doors and windows of north, east and west sides of the home. Firefighters performed a defensive attack to protect neighboring homes prior to extinguishing and controlling the fire by 4:00 a.m. Fire investigators have determined the fire originated in the northeast corner bedroom. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. One person was transported for non-fire related injuries.

At 5:30 a.m., a forth house fire was reported in the Stoner Hill Community. Shreveport Firefighters arrived on scene within three minutes to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the home at 153 Merrick Street. It took firefighters 20 minutes to extinguish the fire which originated in the kitchen in the vicinity of the water heater and stove. Approximately 30 percent of the home was damaged. This fire remains under investigation.

According to Fire Chief Brian A. Crawford, “Even though multiple fires were reported near the same time, the City of Shreveport’s safety coverage was never compromised.” ###