A tragic incident took place in Marrero Monday afternoon, claiming the life of a 69-year-old man in a house fire, as reported by multiple local outlets. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that a fire erupted in a multi-family structure on the 600 block of Westwood Drive around 12:10 p.m, as reported by FOX8Live.
According to FOX8Live, first responders encountered the blaze when they arrived at the scene. Once the fire was under control, they discovered an unresponsive man inside the residence. Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, a victim to the fire-related injuries. The name of the deceased was initially withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is leading an investigation into the cause of the fire. While early signals pointed to the fire being accidental, WDSU notes that the investigation is still ongoing, and additional details are expected as they look further into the circumstances of the incident.
The victim was later identified by official with the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office as Willie White, a resident of the home where the fire occurred. According to NOLA.com, his autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. The tight-knit community of Marrero is left to grapple with the loss as the Sheriff's Office works to piece together the tragic tapestry of that fateful afternoon.
