NFPA Journal - January/February 2018 - 74

Firewatch

LOUISIANA
Four perish in overnight fire blamed
on electrical fault

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Four family members perished in a
house fire that was ignited during the
overnight hours by faulty electrical
wiring in the home's attic.
Firefighters were dispatched to
the scene at 7:30 a.m. after a passing
motorist saw smoke coming from a
duplex house and called 911.
Upon arrival, crews reported flames
and smoke ventilating from a large
window at the side of the single-story
house and heavy smoke emitting
from the attic area. As they began

suppression efforts, an occupant of
the adjoining unit informed crews
that occupants might still be inside.
Incident command gave the order for a
search and rescue operation.
A search and rescue team entered the
structure and located four occupants,
who were moved outside and began
receiving medical treatment before
transport to the hospital. Crews then
resumed fire attack and completed
extinguishment.
All four occupants later succumbed
to smoke inhalation injuries in the
hospital.
Investigators determined that the fire
began in the attic area, where newer
wiring from the exterior electrical
panel was connected to knob-and-tube
wiring in junction boxes. They concluded that an electrical fault in the
wiring ignited a fire in the attic and
smoldered for a considerable amount
of time before burning a hole in the
ceiling and dropping onto a couch in

the living room below, where the fire
greatly intensified.
The house was a wood structure with
a ground-floor area of 1,900 square
feet (177 square meters). It was not
equipped with smoke alarms or sprinkler protection.
The fire caused $20,000 in damage
to the house, which was valued at
$70,000, and an additional $10,000 in
damage to its contents, whose value
was estimated at $20,000.

NEW YORK
One dies in early morning house fire
ignited by a candle
A candle was blamed for igniting an
early morning house fire that claimed
the life of a female occupant.
Firefighters were dispatched to the
scene following a 911 call at midnight
by an occupant who was wakened by
screaming. News reports indicated
that two firefighters found the victim
in a bedroom and carried her from

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investigators indicated that they did
not operate.
The house was a two-story wood construction with a ground-floor area of
1,050 square feet (98 square meters).
The house, valued at $96,000, was a
total loss. The fire caused an additional
$10,000 in damage to its contents.

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74 | NFPA JOURNAL * J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - January/February 2018