Fire destroys Iberia Street home

Franklin Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hildreth reported no injuries after Franklin and Centerville fire departments were dispatched at 1:17 p.m. yesterday to a reported house fire at 816 Iberia St.
The first units are reported to have arrived approximately one minute later and found that the house was totally engulfed.
Additional assistance was requested from Baldwin, Chitimacha and Dist. 11 fire departments, and the fire was placed under control at 2:39 p.m.
Of the four adults and three children living in the residence, there was no one home at the time of the fire and the cause remains under investigation, but is expected to be accidental.
The building and contents are reported to have been deemed a total loss and the damage is estimated at $75,000.
The residents did not have insurance and the Red Cross and Franklin Emergency Aid Center are providing assistance.
Franklin Senior High School Principal Ty Burdett said a clothing drive is under way for one of his students who was confirmed to be a resident of the house involved in Wednesday’s blaze.
Students, parents and concerned citizens are invited to bring clothes in the following sizes to FSH for collection:
Woman age 38, 22 pants, XL shirt, 10 shoes; man age 48, 36 men’s pants, large shirt and 10 1/2 shoes;
Boy age 18, 36 men’s pants, large to XL shirt, 11 shoes; boy age 13, 16 pants, medium-to-large shirt, 7 kids shoe; female age 20, 16 ladies pants, medium-to-large shirt, 9½ shoe; two-year-old boy, 18 to 24 months sizes; one-year-old boy, 12 months size.
The Franklin Fire Department urges everyone to use caution with portable space heaters. Ensure that a clear space is maintained around the heaters. Never use extension cords to power the heaters and make sure they are in proper working order. Smoke detectors are important and all sleeping areas should be protected with a working smoke detector.
Contact the Franklin Fire Department at 337-828-6328 for free smoke detectors.