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TANGIPAHOA PARISH- State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies continue their investigation into a mobile home fire that claimed the life of the home’s male resident.

Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on June 9, the Hammond Rural Fire Department responded to a call for a mobile home fire located in the 17000 block of Old Covington Highway. Firefighters later located the body of a man inside.

While official identification and cause of death are pending with the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office, the victim is believed to be the 61-year-old tenant of the mobile home.

Following an assessment of the scene, as well as collecting witness statements and evidence, deputies have determined the fire began outside of the home. At this time, while the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, deputies have not been able to rule out improper discarding of smoking materials as a potential contributing factor.

“This is an unfortunate loss for this man’s family that we hope other families can learn from,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “That starts with recognizing that small, preventative steps like putting out cigarettes in a fire-safe container or ash tray that is located a safe distance from combustible objects can actually mean saving a life.” Additional tips include ensuring all smoking materials are completely extinguished, appropriately discarding the contents of ash trays after a cool down period and keeping all smoke materials out of the reach of children.

The SFM would like to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Hammond Fire Prevention Bureau for their assistance with this investigation.