By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – An early morning trailer home fire in LaPlace this morning claimed the life of a 67-year-old man, but the man’s wife and son were able to escape, according to a release from State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning.

Arthur Zeller died in the fire, which started some time before 3 a.m. near the back his trailer home at 123 Augustin Lane. His wife, Phyllis Zeller, 69, escaped the blaze, but suffered burns and smoke inhalation, Browning said. She was taken to Ochsner Hospital in Kenner, where she remains in stable condition. The couple’s son, Arthur Zeller III, was uninjured.

Browning said officials are still investigating the fire and much more forensic work is needed before an exact cause is determined. He said no foul play is suspected.

L’Observateur will have more on this story as information is released.