In a pair of early morning incidents, the New Orleans Fire Department responded to two separate two-alarm fires in New Orleans East on January 1. According to a press release from the New Orleans Fire Department, the first blaze engulfed an apartment complex at 7839 Read Blvd around 12:50 a.m., leading to extensive damage and the displacement of eight individuals.
Firefighters arrived to find the right side of a four-plex alight, with flames advancing towards the roof. The fire was brought under control approximately an hour after it was first reported. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and nearby buildings sustained only moderate damage, despite the fire's intensity. The Red Cross has been notified to assist those affected by the fire, which remains under investigation by the New Orleans Fire Department fire investigators.
The second fire broke out shortly after, at 1:21 am, at a residence located at 4642 Coronado Drive. Upon arrival, New Orleans Fire Department units were faced with fire involvement on the right front exterior of a brick single-story home. The fire was contained in under an hour, also resulting in zero injuries. Here too, the same number of residents were displaced, and the Red Cross was brought in to provide necessary aid.
Both fires summoned considerable emergency responses, with 15 units and over 38 personnel attending the Read Blvd incident, and the same number of units with 43 personnel for the Coronado Drive fire. Detailed timelines of the response and containment were outlined in the New Orleans Fire Department's release, emphasizing the efficiency and swift action of the fire crews in both situations. As of now, the causes for both two-alarm fires are still under investigation, with further updates to follow from New Orleans Fire Department's investigative team.
