February 6, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Arsonist Torches Shreveport Home - Sends Residents Fleeing

Fires damaged two Shreveport homes overnight. The first fire was reported at 3004 Lindholm Street around 7:00 p.m. by the residents.

The caller told fire communications officers at 911 that there was a fire in a bedroom closet but when crews from the department’s Station 8 arrived smoke and fire were consuming the entire bedroom.

Three people escaped without injury and firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control at 7:17 p.m. Fire investigators believe the fire was caused by an electric space heater cord that was plugged into an outlet in the closet. The cord was covered with a large amount of clothing not allowing it to properly ventilate. Subsequently, the cord heated up and ignited the clothing. The fire has been officially listed as accidental.

A second fire at 2202 Claiborne Avenue sent five people, including four children running for safety after their porch was intentionally torched. Firefighters received the call reporting the front of the home on fire at 8:31 p.m. Again, fire crews from the Fair Grounds’ Station 8 were the first company on the scene. When they arrived the porch and now home was well involved in flames. All of the children, triplet toddlers and a nine-year-old, and their grandmother, Ira Salone, 62, escaped without serious injury. Salone was treated and transported to LSUHSC by department paramedics for smoke inhalation that aggravated an underlying medical condition. She was listed in good condition.

The fire on Claiborne has officially been ruled as arson. Anyone with information concerning this fire or any other act of arson, please contact the Fire Prevention Arson Investigation Office at 673-6740.