March 19, 2025 | From New Orleans Fire Department
Update: Two-Alarm Fire Devastates Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood
The owner of the three dogs originally presumed perished in yesterday’s two-alarm fire in the 1000 block of Charbonnet St., has confirmed to New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) personnel that two of his dogs were found alive beneath the remains of the collapsed dwelling at 1028-30 Charbonnet St. While witnessing the unfortunate loss of his home and reflecting on what area of the home the dogs were in, their owner was convinced his dogs could not have survived when originally interviewed by NOFD response personnel. The NOFD company officer that spoke with the homeowner stated that, “he was in good spirits after finding two of his dogs still alive.” The dogs have been taken to a veterinarian clinic to be treated for burns and further evaluation.
Although the news of the two dogs surviving is heartwarming to all, the NOFD warns against the risks associated with entering a mostly collapsed building structurally compromised by fire.
New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 4:19 p.m., the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) was dispatched to a reported fire in the 1000 block of Charbonnet St. in the Lower Ninth Ward. The first NOFD company arrived on the scene 1024 Charbonnet St. at 4:24 p.m., finding the single-family dwelling almost completely involved in flames. A second alarm was requested immediately at 4:24 p.m. The couple that lives at 1024 Charbonnet St. weren’t home when the fire began. This incident occurred very close to the Orleans and St. Bernard Parish line. Calls reporting smoke in the area prompted the response of the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department (SBFD). They provided “mutual aid” to the NOFD, actively assisting in fire ground operations.
A strong southerly wind assisted the fire’s spread to an occupied dwelling, to the immediate right, at 1028-30 Charbonnet St. The couple at this address were able to escape safely, but unfortunately had three dogs perish in the fire. The occupied exposed dwelling to the immediate left of the original fire building, 1020-22 Charbonnet St., also received severe enough fire damage to make it uninhabitable. The individual occupying this residence, an elderly male, also escaped safely prior to NOFD arrival. Two exposures in the rear of the original fire building were also significantly damaged. The rear exterior wall and roof of an unoccupied dwelling at 1025 Lamanche St. was damaged by radiant heat. An elderly couple at 1027 Lamanche St. escaped unharmed, but unfortunately the damage to their home rendered it uninhabitable.
Eighteen NOFD units, supported by fifty Fire Operations personnel responded to this incident, bringing it under control at 5:23 p.m. The three dogs at 1028-30 Charbonnet St. are the only casualties or injuries reported. First arriving NOFD personnel reported that the fire likely began at or near a trailer parked at 1024 Charbonnet St. Exactly what caused the fire has yet to be determined and is currently being investigated. The American Red Cross has been requested to the scene to assist all that were displaced by this fire. The NOFD thanks the SBFD for their assistance in the mitigation of this incident.
Call Received: 4:19 p.m.
Dispatched: 4:19 p.m.
Arrival: 4:24 p.m.
2nd Alarm: 4:24 p.m.
Under Control: 5:23 p.m.
NOFD Units: 18
Fire Ops Personnel: 50
SBFD Apparatuses: 2
Casualties: 1 dog/1028-30 Charbonnet St.
Injuries: 2 dogs found alive by owner/being treated for burns
Cause: Under Investigation
-30-