Almost a dozen persons are without a home following an apartment fire on East Main Street in Louisville.
Louisville Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Tuesday morning. Louisville Fire Deputy Chief Robert Hutto said the apartments were destroyed and unlivable but no injuires were reported.
Around 5 a.m. Louisville Fire Department got the call about the fire and when firefighters arrived on scene the building was fully involved.
“Crews attempted entry but were forced to backout and take a defensive plan to fight the fire,” said Deputy Chief Hutto.
Hutto said East Winston Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the fire and their assistance was needed and greatly appreciated.
Firefighters were still on scene putting out the remnants of the fire at 9:30 a.m.
Utilty crews were on scene to cut power and help insure safety.
Hutto said the cause was not know yet and is under investigation.
The Red Cross was notified to help the displaced residents both financially and emotionally.
There have been 52 fire deaths in Mississippi so far this year. Fifteen of those deaths were caused by placing flammable material too close to space heaters, plugging heaters into malfunctioning extension cords, or using equipment as a heat source when it was not designed for that purpose.
“We are going to see cold days and nights in the near future and some people may be getting out their space heaters for the first time this year,” State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney said.
“National reports show the leading factor in home heating fire deaths was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses, or bedding. “
Every home should have multiple smoke alarms. If you need smoke alarms and can not afford to purchase, ask your local fire department.
As you prepare for cold weather, the State Fire Marshal Office offers these heating safety tips:
• All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
• Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Never use your oven for heating.
• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Use portable space heaters with an automatic shut off so, if they’re tipped over, they will shut off.
• Place space heaters on a solid, flat surface.
• Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
• If the pilot light of your gas heater goes out, allow 5 minutes or more for the gas to go away before trying again, do not allow gas to accumulate, and light the match before you turn on the gas to the pilot to avoid risk of flashback.
• If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not attempt to light the appliance. Turn off all the controls and open doors and windows. Call a gas service professional.
• In wood stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.
• Start the fire with newspaper or kindling, never with a flammable liquid, such as lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline.
• Keep the doors of your wood stove closed unless loading or stoking the live fire.
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing.
• Install smoke alarms in your home. Check alarms and replace the batteries at least once a year and replace the entire alarm every 10 years.
• In the event of a fire, get out of your home, call 911, and do not go back inside the house for any reason.
