The City of Natchitoches Fire Department was dispatched to 816 Whitfield for a reported structure fire.  Fire Engines and crews from Central Fire Station and Station 2 were dispatched to the incident.  Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the roof and fire venting through the attic vents.  Fire crews made access to the attic space and extinguished the fire.  There were no reported injuries to the occupants or emergency responders.  The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.

Please remember when working smoke alarms are present in your home, the risk of dying in a home fire is cut by 60 percent, according to the latest NFPA research. 

Statistics

• Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
• The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

Source: NFPA Research

Safety Tips

• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.
• It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
• A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. 
• Working smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. 

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