A 55-year-old woman and a 3-year-old girl died in a house fire in Killona last Friday.
Catherine Scott-Isaac and her 3-year-old granddaughter, Kamri Farria, were found in the master bedroom of Scott-Isaac’s home at 156 Killona Drive.
According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, a call was placed a 7:56 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14 reporting that a fire had broken out at the home.
“We received information that smoke was inside the home and that there were possibly two victims,” Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, a spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office said.
An official with the Killona Volunteer Fire Department, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was unclear what caused the blaze.
“Her son was the one that tried to go in there. He tried to open the door, but she was laying in front of it. Then he went and busted out the window, but too much smoke was coming out for him to go in,” he said.
The bodies were later recovered by the Killona Volunteer Fire Department.
Scott-Isaac’s brother, Chris Scott, was at the home trying to clean up and secure the household following the incident.
“It was a blow. You don’t expect something like this here,” he said. “You just have to take it one day at a time.”
Scott said the fire was likely related to an electrical malfunction in Scott-Isaac’s bedroom.
“The Fire Marshall was here and he said that the breaker had been tripped, but they couldn’t be sure exactly what started the fire,” Scott said. “There was an extension cord in the corner of the room with a fan and a few other things plugged into it. It could have come from there.”
Scott-Isaac ran Scott’s Grocery Store, the only grocery store in Killona. The grocery was located next to her home.
Her son, Brandon Isaac, said she had run the store for the past 20 years.
“She dedicated her life to that store and dedicated her life to the community. That’s how I’d like for her to be remembered,” Isaac said. “A lot of people knew her. I imagine the funeral will be rather large.”
Isaac said it is likely that either he or his extended family will keep the store open.
“We’ve got family between my cousins and my siblings (to keep it open),” Isaac said. “The community needs it.”
Chase White, who has lived in the neighborhood his entire life, sat in front of his home across the street after they had pulled the bodies from the home.
“This whole street was full of people earlier today. About 500 I would guess,” White said.
Another neighbor said he was shocked when he found out about the two deaths.
“I just talked to them last night at the store before it closed,” Christopher Mitchell said.
LaGrange said the cause of death of Scott-Isaac and her granddaughter would be forthcoming following autopsy results.
“It’s a saddening situation towards the holidays and the family is coping with it the best they can,” LaGrange said.
A statement form the Office of the State Fire Marshall noted that there were no working smoke detectors present in the residence.
“We are once again investigating a tragic fire, with multiple fatalities, occurring in a residence without smoke detection. Let this be a wakeup call as to the importance of these lifesaving devices,” State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said.
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