January 31, 2015 | From New Orleans Fire Department
28yr Old Female Succumbs in Central City Fire
On Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 9:35 a.m. the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) began receiving several 911 calls reporting a residential fire with possible persons trapped in the 2400 block of S. Saratoga St. in Central City area of New Orleans. The first NOFD company arrived on the scene of 2401-03 S. Saratoga St at 9:39 a.m., finding an occupied two-story shotgun double with heavy smoke and fire coming from the windows and doors of 2403 S. Saratoga St. An adult male, who was home at the time of the fire and had escaped by jumping out of an upstairs window, told firefighters that his girlfriend was scared to follow him of out the window and was still inside. A second alarm was called for shortly after arrival as NOFD suppression personnel began an immediate interior attack, while another team of firefighters simultaneously began a primary search of the residence. Firefighters found the unconscious and unresponsive 28yr old female just outside of an upstairs bedroom. CPR was administered immediately as both she and the male resident were taken to a local hospital by New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. It was later confirmed that the female victim had succumbed to injuries received during the fire. The male victim was admitted to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and possible injuries received during his escape. A 7yr old niece of the victims was also home at the time of fire, but managed to escape unharmed. The 7yr old lived next door, at 2401 S. Saratoga St., with her mother (the sister of the female victim), who was at work at the time of the fire. The mother of the 28yr old female victim and grandmother of the 7yr old also lived at 2403 S. Saratoga St. but was out of town at the time of the fire.
Twenty NOFD units carrying fifty-two suppression and support personnel responded to this incident, bringing it under control at 10:25 a.m. The New Orleans Police Department and Entergy also assisted in the mitigation of this incident and the American Red Cross was on the scene offering assistance to all involved in this unfortunate event. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
It must be noted that firefighters were unable to locate smoke alarms in either residence of this double at 2401-03 S. Saratoga St. New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Timothy McConnell, who was on the scene of this incident, continued to the stress the potentially lifesaving importance of smoke alarms through the early warnings that they provide. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and neighbors of the victim. Words cannot express how much it pains me to see another one of our neighbors die unnecessarily. This is the eighth New Orleans resident to die in a fire without smoke alarms since November 11th of last year. If anyone in the city of New Orleans is in need of a smoke alarm, please call or contact the New Orleans Fire Department for assistance”. The NOFD provides and installs free 10yr smoke alarms to any and all residents of Orleans Parish. Any citizen in need of assistance should contact the NOFD Community Relations Office at 504-658-4714 or by email at www.nola.gov/nofd .
Call Received: 9:35 am
On Scene: 9:39 am
2nd Alarm 9:40 am
Under Control: 10:25 am
Fatalities: 28yr old female
Injuries: Adult male/smoke inhalation and other unspecified injuries
Cause: Under Investigation
NOFD Units: 20
NOFD Personnel: 52