NEW ORLEANS — A three-alarm fire forced residents of the Esplanade Apartments near City Park to evacuate Thursday evening.
The fire started around 4:38 p.m. According to NOFD, firefighters were on the scene minutes later and were directed to a rear-wing apartment on the top floor of the building. Firefighters began suppressing the fire while another team searched the apartment.
"People were already self-evacuating. Firefighters got here quickly and made sure it didn’t spread,” said Fire Chief Tim McConnell.
A dog was found unresponsive and overcome by smoke. Emergency medical services resuscitated the dog before taking it to a veterinarian hospital. No humans were injured.
Second and third alarms were called at 4:50 and 5:27 p.m. to assist with evacuating the sixth and seventh floors in the wing where the fire burned. Smoke permeated the seventh floor, while water seeped into the sixth.
Twenty-three NOFD units carrying 60 fire fighters responded to the fire. It was under control by 5:57 p.m.
Officials say NOFD personnel will remain on the scene until ventilation and overhaul operations are complete.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No evidence of an explosion (as was originally reported) has been found.