By Nyla Smith

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A fire occurred Monday in the 100 block of West Fifth Street at about 4 am.

St. John the Baptist Parish fire fighters and deputies responded to a 911 call reporting the incident at Trendsetter’s Barber and Beauty Salon. The Norco Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the call.

Assistant Fire Chief Robert Bourgeois said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

“It was a structural fire, and the causes are undetermined,” said Bourgeois.

The owner of the barber salon, Kendrick Gray, was at the scene and said he is not sure he will reopen at this location.

“The fire started in the roof, and there is a lot of damage inside,” said Gray. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to open my shop here again.”

A stream of smoke was still coming out of the building’s roof around 8 a.m. Fire officials began clearing the scene about a half hour later.

Traffic was blocked off on the 400 block of Main Street and the 100 block of West Fifth Street for about four hours.