Franklin fire blamed on electrical failure

Eight fire departments were called to battle the blaze that destroyed Joe's Lounge in Franklin on Friday.

An electrical failure in the building is believed to have started the fire.

Multiple hoses were placed in service, and Franklin crews made an aggressive interior attack on the fire, the Franklin Fire Department said.

Initial crews were met with a large volume of fire, significant heat and smoke. Conditions deteriorated rapidly, and firefighters were ordered to evacuate the structure.
The fire was under control at 7:36 p.m..

No one was in the building, and no injuries were reported. Franklin firefighters asked the State Fire Marshal to assist with the investigation.

The Franklin Fire Department was joined by firefighters from District 11, Baldwin, the Chitimacha department, Centerville, Patterson, Bayou Vista and Morgan City. The Franklin Police Department provided traffic control.

The Franklin firefighters also praised their colleagues in a Facebook post.

"Yesterday’s fire highlights the importance of relationships with neighboring fire departments and why building those relationships and training together are vital. You sawepartments from one end of the parish to the other, working together to contain and extinguish a very dangerous fire.

"This may look like a total loss or even a failure to some, but from a different perspective, adjacent structures were saved, no injuries to civilians were reported, and all first responders went home safely to their families, which is a job well done.

"hanks to all area departments that responded to our call for help without hesitation! Also, thanks to Brown’s Boiling House and Domino’s of Franklin for providing a meal to exhausted personnel."