Ruston firefighters battling a blaze at 315 Vernon Street Monday night found the body of a man inside the home.
The Ruston Fire Department responded to the house fire at the intersection of East Arizona Avenue and Vernon Street about 10 p.m. Monday night after a neighbor reported the fire by 911.
Firefighters spent over two hours suppressing the flames.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office described the victim as a disabled man in his 40s. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the man has not been released by authorities.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ruston Fire Department and the Louisiana State Marshal’s Office.
The Fire Marshal announced Tuesday that three deaths had occurred in Louisiana fires Sunday and Monday.
“It’s cold outside and we know cold temperatures go hand-in-hand with fire tragedies,” said Louisiana State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis, “But we haven’t even seen the harshest temperatures yet. That’s why I’m very concerned and urging families to be aware of the fire hazards in their homes and in the homes of those they love.”
The Fire Marshal said 75 people have died in Louisiana house fires in 2022. In all but a handful of the fires, no working smoke alarms were found. If you need assistance obtaining smoke alarms for your home, Operation Save-A-Life can help. To learn more about Operation Save-A-Life, visit the State Fire Marshal’s website at lasfm.org.
