
A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours yesterday, when a fire, initiated by a space heater, claimed the life of an approximately 60-year-old woman in Algiers, New Orleans. According to New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), the call came in at 1:55 a.m., reporting smoke at 1808-10 Diane Street. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:03 a.m. and were greeted by heavy smoke and flames pouring from the roof of an engulfed wood-framed double home.
With the severity of the blaze evident and neighbors suggesting the possible presence of occupants, a second alarm was declared. Assistance was rendered by Davy Crockett and Terrytown Fire Departments through a mutual aid agreement. Upon conducting a primary search, rescue teams were able to locate the deceased female on the 1810 side of the building. The occupants of 1808 had been absent at the onset but returned during the commotion to find their home caught in the calamity.
The post-incident analysis revealed a space heater placed perilously close to a bed as the point of origin for the fire. It had burned through the floor, highlighting the inherent risks associated with such heating devices. NOFD officials took the opportunity to press the importance of safety measures, advising the public to maintain a three-foot clearance for heating equipment, and to avoid heating homes with conventional ovens. "Never use your oven to heat your home and remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed," cautioned NOFD in a statement obtained by their press release.
The NOFD deployed fourteen units, which included thirty-seven Fire Operations personnel, successfully extinguishing the fire at 3:06 a.m. There were no other injuries reported among civilians or the firefighters engaged in tackling the fire. A family of three, displaced by this event, was assisted by the American Red Cross.