WEST FELICIANA PARISH, LA — Fire Protection District No. 1 of West Feliciana Parish responded to a reported house fire in the early morning hours of January 15. Initial reports indicated that the roof and chimney of the home was on fire. The residents of the home discovered the fire after a family member awoke and smelled smoke.

Upon arrival two firefighters entered the structure and advanced a hose line to the second floor where they attempted to extinguish a well involved fire in the attic of the structure. The two firefighters began to withdraw from the structure when the roof supports and rafters began falling. The roof collapsed moments after firefighters left the second floor.

Firefighters from neighboring departments arrived to assist West Feliciana Firefighters in attempting to gain access to and fight the now well involved structure. Several hose lines and a master stream were used to darken the flames and extinguish the fire.

The fire was reported under control around 6:30 a.m. although fire crews remained on-scene for a few hours to assist in recovering surviving property from the residence and attempting to make the structure safe for entry.

The Fire Protection District would like to thank the volunteers and personnel from neighboring departments that sent personnel to assist in combating the fire. In addition to local WFFD volunteer and duty firefighters, personnel from Jackson Fire Department, Ethel Fire Department, McManus Fire Department, Slaughter Fire Department and Zachary Fire Department assisted in extinguishing the blaze.

The Fire District would also like to thank Paramedic Chris McBeth and EMT Somer Grady with West Feliciana Parish EMS for their assistance in both suppression of the fire and medical monitoring of personnel.

The home and most of its contents are a total loss of more $500,000