Mississippi officials are investigating a Louisville house fire that killed three people.
According to a report from the Louisville Fire Department, first responders were dispatched to a home on Brooksville Road on Monday morning after receiving calls about a structure fire. While heading to the location, firefighters spotted a “large column of smoke visible from the center of the city of Louisville.”
At the scene, crews encountered a home completely engulfed in flames with thick smoke escaping from multiple points. Before first responders made their way out to the area, multiple bystanders and workers at a nearby construction site had broken the residence’s windows to clear the smoke. The bystanders informed firefighters about the possibility of victims being located in the home’s bedrooms.
Firefighters promptly initiated an aggressive interior operation, employing a tactic known as vent-enter-search. One firefighter located an unresponsive victim in the back bedroom, and the victim was passed out through the window to waiting responders, who immediately began CPR.
Interior crews worked to search the rest of the east side of the structure. However, rapidly deteriorating conditions, including collapsing ceilings, fire intensification, and multiple small explosions from ammunition and propane tanks, forced personnel to withdraw and switch to a defensive operation.
Emergency medical workers arrived at the scene and took over medical care of the rescued victim, who was transported to Winston Medical Center and later airlifted to an unspecified hospital in the Jackson area. The victim ultimately succumbed to injuries sustained by the fire.
Two other victims, an adult and a minor, were pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s office will spearhead the assessment into the fatal incident.
“Our hearts are heavy for the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” Louisville Fire Chief Robert Hutto said. “We are incredibly grateful to our firefighters, EMS teams, and volunteer departments for their bravery and quick response under extremely hazardous conditions.”
The victims’ identities are not being released at this time.
