September 3, 2025 | From New Orleans Fire Department
NOFD Battles Five-Alarm Fire at N.O.E. Apartment Complex
On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 6:19 a.m., the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD) received a 911 call reporting a fire in the 6000 block of Chef Menteur Hwy. Dispatched at 6:20 a.m., the first company of New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) Fire Operations (Fire Ops) personnel arrived on the scene at 6:25 a.m. Upon arrival firefighters found the front-right, second floor corner of the Gentilly Ridge Apartment Complex already heavily involved. A second alarm was requested at 6:31 a.m. as first alarm units worked to prevent extension of the fire and simultaneously evacuate the residents of this 115-unit, fully occupied apartment complex.
All residents are believed to have been evacuated safely. Several pets were also rescued by NOFD Fire Ops personnel. Third, fourth and fifth alarms were dispatched, at 7:04 a.m., 7:25 a.m., and 8:56 a.m., respectively, as this fire spread quickly through the common attic space above the second-floor apartments. All apartment units, including the laundry room, on the west side of the complex (approx. 60 units) received varying degrees of fire, smoke and water damage. Fire also extended to several east side second-floor units. Currently we’re not sure whether every resident will be displaced.
Twenty-eight NOFD units, supported by eighty-eight Fire Ops personnel were dispatched to this incident. Two residents were treated for smoke inhalation by New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and transported to an area hospital for further evaluation. A third civilian was also evaluated by NOEMS personnel but refused transport and one firefighter was treated for exhaustion before reporting back to duty. The New Orleans Police Department (NOFD) responded to the scene, assisting with crowd and traffic control, as did Entergy to de-energize overhead power lines. The American Red Cross has been requested to the scene to assist the residents that will be displaced by this incident. This incident was listed as “Under Control” at 9:46 a.m., but as with all major fire incidents, NOFD personnel will remain on the scene for several hours checking for “hot spots” and conducting incident overhaul.
Call Received: 6:19 a.m.
Dispatched: 6:20 a.m.
Arrival: 6:25 a.m.
2nd Alarm: 6:31 a.m.
3rd Alarm: 7:04 a.m.
5th Alarm: 8:56 a.m.
Under Control: 9:46 a.m.
NOFD Units: 28
Fire Ops Personnel: 88
Injuries: 3 civilians treated, 1 transported for smoke inhalation
1 firefighter treated for exhaustion/returned to duty
Cause: Under Investigation