BREAUX BRIDGE, La. (KLFY) – A Breaux Bridge family with 9 children is homeless tonight.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, a fire swept through and destroyed their home, in the 1000 block of Nanny Road.
The home is a total loss.
One of the homeowners, Sekeou Brown, said he had just dozed off in his living room, when suddenly the smell of smoke woke him up.
He went to his kitchen, and saw a huge ball of fire right before his eyes.
“We lost practically everything, my children’s uniforms, clothes, everything” said Lakeshia Brown, the homeowner.
The 2 alarm fire forced the Brown family of 11, to run for their lives.
“The fire started spreading, I’m in and out of the house trying to get my kids, and I fell on my lip and my face. That’s why it’s kind of difficult for me to talk right now,” said Sekeou.
It took 4 fire departments to get the blaze under control.
Firefighters were on the scene for more than 3 hours, checking for any hot spots.
Firefighters were on the scene for more than 3 hours, checking for any hot spots.
“We used I would guess, about 12 or 15 thousands gallons of water last night, to make sure this thing was out and not coming back,” said Johnny LeBlanc, Breaux Bridge Volunteer Fire Chief.
“Me and my son, we had fire extinguishers but unfortunately they wouldn’t work,” said Sekeou.
The homeowner believes a pot may have been on the stove, igniting the blaze.
But the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Chief LeBlanc says if a fire extinguisher doesn’t work, don’t try to put it out with water.
“You can use baking soda or flour, or anything that can smother the fire,” said Fire Chief LeBlanc.
If the needle on the fire extinguisher is in the red area, it needs to be serviced and recharged.
Green means it’s ready to use.
Green means it’s ready to use.
“You’re going to pull this pin out, which will break this tab. Then you’re going to aim it (fire extinguisher) wherever you want to spray. Squeeze this handle down, and the powder’s going to come out and you just sweep side to side,” said LeBlanc.
The Brown’s are staying with family and have plans to rebuild.
They’re just thankful everyone made it out alive.
“Above all else, thank God. Above all else, I have nothing else but my faith in him,” said Sekeou.
The Brown family says most of the pages of their various bibles in their home, were not affected by the fire.
They say it shows just how strong the Word of God is, as their faith will get them through this.
They say it shows just how strong the Word of God is, as their faith will get them through this.
No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.
The family did not have any smoke alarms in the home.
The Brown family is in desperate need of clothing and other items.
