5-year-old dies in blaze

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 6, 1999

L’Observateur / January 6, 1999

BOUTTE – A 5-year-old deaf girl died Sunday night in Boutte, unable to hear the frantic calls to leave a burning apartment.

Capt. Patrick Yoes of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office reported that AlexisRobertson, 5, daughter of Lakeisha Robertson Asphall, 24, of 316 Boutte Estates Drive, was home with three of her siblings, her grandmother and a family friend when the fire broke out at 6:39 p.m. in the room whereAlexis lay sleeping.

Her grandmother, Linda Robertson, 46, of Boutte, called the children to evacuate. Alexis’ twin, Alayna; Arielle, 7; and Wayne Asphall Jr., 3, allreached safety, but the hearing-impaired Alexis was only awakened by the heat of the fire which quickly engulfed the house.

When Robertson and friend Leo Green tried to reach Alexis, the flames forced them back. By this time, the terrified child was awake and, unableto move, calling for her mother.

Two deputies, Sgt. Mark Candies and Cpl. Patrick Beard, also attempted toenter the residence but were forced back due to the black smoke and extreme heat, Yoes added.

Relatives and friends threw buckets of water on the flames in an attempt to reach the child while awaiting the arrival of firefighters from the Luling and Paradis VFDs. But the cries soon stilled. She was later found,having died from smoke inhalation.

The fire was extinguished five minutes after firefighters arrived.

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