Neighbors use garden hoses to limit blaze until help arrives
A blaze last Thursday on River Oaks Drive in Destrehan has displaced a mother and her elementary-aged daughter and son. No one was injured, as the family was out at the time.
Capt. Blake Estevez, of the East St. Charles Volunteer Fire Department, said a Christmas tree was at the root of the blaze, but officials are unsure what ignited the tree. The house sustained significant damage to the living room and kitchen, and Estevez said it would require “significant work” before the family could move back in.
Estevez said the fire was relatively easy to put out, thanks to the help of some neighbors. Those neighbors, he said, sprayed water from garden hoses to keep the fire at bay until firefighters arrived.
“I wouldn’t suggest that anyone gets a garden hose and goes up to a house fire, but for what they did, they definitely did a great job,” Estevez said.
The boy and girl who lost their belongings in the fire were members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, respectively. The fire has prompted their troops to step up and solicit donations on behalf of the family. According to Girl Scout troop leader Brandi Hollingsworth, troop 20285 was started only last September and the displaced kindergartner joined in November.
Hollingsworth was talking about cookie orders with a relative of the family when she heard the news.
“We’re collecting whatever people have, whether good condition used clothes or buying something new for the kids,” Hollingsworth said.
To date, she said donations have trickled in, with New Sarpy Elementary School donating uniform shirts and other troops offering to buy toiletries.
“I told [the mother] we’re going to do something between Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts,” Hollingsworth said. “This is what it is about.”
Those wishing to donate are asked to contact Hollingsworth for details at (504) 235-3420.
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