This afternoon, a significant blaze broke out at a derelict Catholic school building on the campus of Hope Haven in Marrero, drawing firefighters to the scene to battle the towering flames. According to WWL Louisiana, the fire was reported around 12:24 p.m., with images sent in by a viewer showing the intensity of the fire, which sent plumes of smoke and fire above the building's rooftop.
Engulfed by the fire, the school building has seen better days, sitting vacant amidst the broader campus known for its history. Firefighting crews encountered the collapsing of an interior wall within the building located at the 1100 block of Barataria Boulevard, as reported by Chief Stephen Guidroz of the Marrero Harvey Volunteer Fire Company to NOLA.com. The state of the fire was not stabilized as of 2:15 p.m., with no injuries reported at the time of the statement.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown as investigations are underway. The site of the blaze is adjacent to a church that operates the St. John Bosco PACE Center, focusing on comprehensive care for the elderly and falls under the Archdiocese of New Orleans. "The building is next to a church that houses the St. John Bosco PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) Center," the Archdiocese informed NOLA.com.
The facility under flames is separated from a 15-acre parcel that Jefferson Parish has intentions to purchase within the next 30 days; this according to Jefferson Parish Council Member Deano Bonano and the Archdiocese, which has been leasing it since 2018. With the complexities unraveling as the investigation progresses, FOX 8 Live coverage highlighted that multiple buildings at Hope Haven could feel the heat, even though the fire began in only one part of the historical institution.
