News

January 19, 2026 | From New Orleans Fire Department

NOFD Responds to Multiple Arsons in the Bywater Neighborhood

 Beginning at 1:46 a.m., the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) responded to a one-alarm fire at an occupied dwelling and multiple vehicle fires in the Bywater neighborhood. The response to a single vehicle fire in the 900 block of Montegut St began the NOFD’s responses to this chain of incidents. Upon arrival to the Montegut St vehicle fire, firefighters began noticing several other vehicles on fire in the neighborhood. Almost simultaneously, at 2:11 a.m., a 911 call was received reporting an occupied dwelling on fire at 3138-40 Dauphine St., as firefighters working to extinguish three vehicle fires in the 3100 block of Dauphine St also noticed the home on fire and requested a full one-alarm. All four residents of the two-story duplex escaped safely, and the fire’s damage was mostly limited to the exterior walls.

 

In total the NOFD responded to eight vehicle fires, all intentionally set, and one dwelling, also intentionally set and classified at ‘Aggravated Arson”. The locations are:

• 3100 block of Dauphine St- three vehicles
• 800 block of Desire St- three vehicles
• 900 block of Desire St- one vehicle
• 700 block of Montegut St.- one vehicle
• 3138-40 Dauphine St., 1-A at two-story occupied dwelling

 

Several other homes and vehicles in the neighborhood received mild to moderate damage from radiant heat emanating from these fires. There were no NOFD or civilian injuries reported. This is an active investigation; more information will be forthcoming.

 

 

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