On Sept. 15, 2016, the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) received a 9-1-1 call reporting a dwelling fire in the 4200 block of S. Rocheblave St., in the city’s Broadmoor neighborhood.
Dispatched at 11:12 a.m., the first NOFD company arrived on the scene at 11:16 a.m. to find an unoccupied single-story, wood-framed dwelling fully involved and on the verge of collapse. The fire had extended to the occupied two-story, multi-unit dwelling next door and firefighters immediately requested a second alarm at 11:17 a.m.
A third alarm was called for at 11:31 a.m. as the fire quickly spread through the multi-unit structure.
All residents of the four occupied apartments got out safely or were not at home at the time the fire began.
Witnesses stated the fire began in the unoccupied dwelling at 4221 S. Rocheblave St. This property had no working utilities and, according to neighbors, was in a blighted condition and abandoned since Hurricane Katrina.
“This fire could have been much worse,” said Superintendent Timothy McConnell. “Taking into account the size of the fire on arrival, the job done by our firefighters was incredible.”
Sixty-seven firefighters responded on 22 emergency vehicles responded and the incident was placed under control at 1:48 p.m.
The New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal and Entergy were also on the scene.
