Baton Rouge Fire Department: More than 60 house fires so far this year, not an unusual trend

VIDEO: After several vacant house fires this year, including two within two days on the same street, the Baton Rouge Fire Department says it's not a cause for concern at this time. Within the first three months of the year, the Baton Rouge Fire Department has worked 52 structure fires. In April, firefighters put out another 10 fires. BRFD spokesman, Curt Monte, says it's not the worst they've seen. "We've had less than what we had in 2022, a little more than what we had in 2023." Monte said there were only 29 structure fires within the first quarter of 2023, and 60 during Q1 of 2022. He did not specify how many of those fires occurred inside of vacant homes. However, a handful of this year's fires have been ruled as arson. Monte said investigations from the BRFD have led to 13 arson arrests this year.
WBRZ-TV ABC 2 Baton Rouge

Electrical malfunction sparks fire at family-owned bait shop in Iberville Parish

VIDEO/PHOTOS: An electrical malfunction caused a family-owned bait shop and grocery store to catch fire in Iberville Parish early Tuesday morning. Sheriff Brett Stassi with the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed firefighters responded to L&L Bait & Grocery Shop located on Highway 3000 in Maringouin around 4 a.m. No one was at the shop at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported. The owners of the business, Linda and Larry Dees posted about the incident on Facebook. “It saddens me to say L&L Bait & Grocery has burned. So many good memories and times we had at this place,” Dees wrote. Firefighters confirmed to Dees that the cause of the fire appeared to be electrical. Sheriff Stassi said the fire was devastating to the family.
WAFB-TV CBS 9 Baton Rouge

Burning incense sparks house fire in Baton Rouge

Firefighters worked to extinguish flames at a home in Baton Rouge overnight after burning incense initially sparked the blaze. The Baton Rouge Fire Department confirmed crews responded to a home in the 4600 block of Osborne Avenue near North Foster Drive around 12:35 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7. When they got there, crews found heavy fire coming from the front window and door of the home. The person living in the home was found outside safe. Crews were able to contain the fire to the front rooms of the house but the rest sustained smoke and water damage. After speaking with the resident, it was discovered that they were burning incense too close to combustible material. The material caught fire and the occupant could not put it out.
WAFB-TV CBS 9 Baton Rouge