A New Orleans firefighter pulled a woman out of a second-story window Saturday evening as crews knocked down a two-alarm fire at a four-unit apartment building on the 3800 block of Texas Drive in Algiers. The blaze started in a bedroom, forced a quick evacuation of nearby residents and cut power to neighboring buildings, but officials reported no injuries. Firefighters brought the flames under control in about 30 minutes, and the American Red Cross was called in to help those displaced.
How crews saved a resident
Dispatch logged the first report of the fire at about 5:09 p.m., and the first New Orleans Fire Department company arrived at the scene around 5:16 p.m. A second alarm was requested just a minute later, at 5:17 p.m., pulling in extra resources for what was clearly more than a routine call.
All told, 16 units and 44 NOFD personnel responded. Crews rescued one woman from a second-story window while battling the flames, then brought the fire under control at 5:40 p.m. Entergy temporarily cut electricity to three neighboring four-plex buildings while firefighters and volunteers secured the scene and helped residents who had to leave their homes, according to WDSU.
Why a second-alarm matters
A second alarm pulls in more companies to keep a fire from spreading, speed up searches and protect nearby buildings. It is the step the NOFD uses when the initial response is not enough to handle the incident safely and quickly.
The department has reported other two-alarm responses this spring that also needed multiple companies and dozens of firefighters to contain flames and complete primary searches, according to the New Orleans Fire Department. That surge in staffing helps explain why organizations such as the Red Cross are often called in to offer shelter and short-term support while crews work the scene.
Help for displaced residents
Local disaster relief teams typically step in with immediate shelter, meals and casework while utility and city crews focus on making buildings safe and assessing the damage. The American Red Cross' Southeast Louisiana chapter lists resources and contact information for people affected by home fires, including shelter and recovery assistance, according to the American Red Cross.
