Has there been a rise in fires in Shreveport? Here's what the Fire Chief has to say

Makenzie Boucher, Shreveport Times
Updated ·2 min read

An early morning fire in Shreveport left an abandoned home in the Highland District completely destroyed.

On April 17, Shreveport Fire Department was dispatched to the 1100 block of Sheridan Street on reports of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a two-story wood frame home completely engulfed in flames, upgrading the situation to a two-alarm response.

After battling the blaze for 41 minutes the fire was placed under control and the home was a total loss.

Shreveport Fire Department said the home was an abandoned structure and no one was inside the residence during the fire.

Fire at George's Grill Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Fire at George's Grill Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Shreveport landmark restaurant currently on fire

Why is there a rise in fires in Shreveport

Shreveport Fire Department, Chief Clarence Reese, said that Shreveport is seeing a rise in vacant structure fires.

Reese disclosed that in 2022, Shreveport saw 39 vacant structure fires, with three of those being commercial buildings. He said these fires are in response to individuals breaking into homes and using what they can to keep warm.

"They are looking for somewhere to stay warm," said Reese.

He also said that during the wintertime the department saw an increase in fires due to individuals using appliances improperly. Reese said, "make sure that you are using your appliances as the manufacturer recommends."

Multiple fire units were on the scene of a fire in an abandoned downtown Shreveport building Wednesday afternoon, September 21, 2022.
Multiple fire units were on the scene of a fire in an abandoned downtown Shreveport building Wednesday afternoon, September 21, 2022.

What can citizens do to help this problem?

With the rise in vacant structure fires, Reese is advising the public if they see anything on their door cameras to release information to the department and the police.

"We have made some successful convictions because someone has given us their ring camera footage," said Reese.

He continued by saying that these cameras catch individuals exiting the structures or walking near them. "They have to enter, and they have to exit," said Reese.

The footage captured on these cameras can assist investigators in the investigation and can ultimately lead to convictions in arson cases.

A fire destroyed the Humphree Building in downtown Shreveport. Now, it's being rebuilt

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What does the Shreveport Fire Chief have to say about all the fires?