MADISONVILLE, La. — A Madisonville man is dead after his kitchen caught fire Monday morning. Firefighters said the fire was caused by unattended cooking.
The State Fire Marshal's Office responded to a call about a house fire on Hester Street in Madisonville around 6:45 a.m. Firefighters said someone in the neighborhood reported seeing smoke coming from the home and when they knocked on the door to alert residents, a man was lying on the floor.
Upon arrival firefighters identified the man as the 32-year-old homeowner, whose body was found between the kitchen and living room areas of the home.
The department said the coroner's office is working to identify the victim.
SFM urges residents to practice safe cooking tips and to be more conscious of the fire hazards in and around their homes.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking, especially when the stove is active
• Keep cooking environments free of clutter and combustible materials
• Avoid cooking when tired, distracted or impaired
When it comes to electrical safety, which is often associated with home heating, it is advised to avoid long-term and unintended uses of extension cords which include connecting several extension cords to create non-traditional power sources. This can cause overheating and become a fire hazard. The SFM also suggests the following home heating tips:
• Place space heaters 3-5 feet from combustible objects like blankets and curtains
• Plug all heating appliances directly into wall outlets, not power strips or extension cords
• Avoid the use of stoves or ovens to heat homes
• Don’t overfill fireplaces/wood-burning stoves and ensure proper ventilation
• Do not leave candles/open flames (or space heaters) unattended
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