Ama and Luling residences substantially damaged by fire

Area firefighters fought blazes at residences in Luling and Ama that substantially damaged both structures.

Luling, Paradis and Hahnville fire departments (about 30 firefighters) responded to a residential fire in the 800 block of Kinler Street in Luling about 11 p.m. last Monday.

Flames were reported coming out of the roof on arrival, said Luling Fire Chief Craig Petit. The three occupants safely escaped the burning building.

“We brought the fire under control within 20 minutes from the time we got the call,” Petit said of both fires.

Firefighters stayed on the scene in Luling until 1:30 a.m.Heaviest damage occurred to the carport and living room, Petit said. The rest of the house sustained light smoke and heat damage.

Petit said the fire apparently started outside the residence.

By 6 p.m. Wednesday, also of last week, Petit said they responded to a second residential fire at 10771 River Road in Ama.

The four occupants – two adults and two teens – living at the location were not at the residence at the time of the fire, which Petit said apparently started on the front porch or front bedroom.

Also, upon arrival of the same three fire departments, flames were shooting through the roof. The front half of the structure sustained heavy water and fire damage and the rest of it got smoke and heat damage.

Firefighters left the scene around 9 p.m., Petit said.

The house is a rental owned by St. Mark Catholic Church.Petit said the cause of both fires is unknown.

The two fire calls contributed to what Petit said has been their highest call ratio for the first six months of this year. They’ve responded to 222 calls that have included fires, gas fires, gas odor and EMS responses.

“These fire calls are really pushing the numbers up,” he said. “We’ve just been busy.”