Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

TANGIPAHOA PARISH- The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) is saddened to report the deaths of two house fire victims in Amite a week after first responders made valiant efforts to rescue them.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 27, Tangipahoa Fire District #1, with assistance from Independence and Roseland Fire Departments, responded to a report of a house fire located in the 600 block of South Third Street in Amite. Firefighters arrived to find two occupants, a 59-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, outside of the home. However, the two residents reported that two elderly victims, in their 80s, were still inside.

Firefighters were able to locate and rescue those victims through a bedroom window. They were then transported to a local hospital and listed in critical condition. Unfortunately, one of the victims succumbed to their injuries on Friday, April 1. The second victim died Monday, April 4.

Following an assessment of the scene and collecting witness statements, deputies have determined the fire began in the living room area of the home. At this time, the cause of the fire has been determined as an electrical malfunction in a light fixture.

This home did have working smoke alarms that alerted the adult female to the fire danger and helped her and the child escape quickly. Unfortunately, due to the mobility limitations of the two elderly victims, that early warning was not enough.

That’s why it’s also important to have a planned and practiced home escape route. This plan should include knowing two ways out of every room in your home in the event of a fire emergency. It should also include special efforts to address any additional needs any residents of the home have including a disability or if children are living in the home. This route should be practiced once a month and should conclude with all occupants meeting at a safe gathering location outside where first responders can be called for help.