April 9, 2010 - Morning Apartment Fire

The apartment did have stove top extinguishers installed per city ordinance

Shreveport Fire Department Firefighters were kept busy this morning when an apartment fire was dispatched at 7:16 AM. Fire Crews arrived on scene four minutes later to find heavy black smoke coming from one of the apartment buildings in the back of the Northwood II Apartments located at 2000 Grimmett Drive. Engine crews from Central Station and Station Four enter the upstairs apartment began immediately to attack the fire and search for any trapped occupants. The fire had extended up into the common attic space of the building but fire crews were able to access it and extinguish it before it could advance and destroy the building. The fire was brought under control at 7:43 AM.

The home was occupied at the time by a 28 year old mother and her two children ages five and seven. All escaped without injury. The occupant stated she had turned the oven on to heat up the home at approximately 7:00 AM. Her daughter who was outside waiting on the school bus saw the fire and warned the other family members. The occupant stated she was in the bathroom; came out and saw the back of the refrigerator on fire next to the stove and oven area. The apartment did have stove top extinguishers installed per city ordinance and they did discharge. According to investigators the fire did start in the kitchen area and then spread throughout the apartment and into the attic.

One occupant from a downstairs apartment was transported to the hospital. A 84 year old handicapped female who was complaining of difficulty breathing was transported to Willis Knighton Hospital.