State Fire Marshal releases new details in Pineville fatal fire

PINEVILLE, La. (KALB) - New details have been released on the fatal fire that happened in Pineville on Tuesday, August 2 in the 1400 block of Barthel Road.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office are continuing their investigation into the fire. SFM announced on Thursday that the man who died in the fire is believed to be the 71-year-old homeowner. Official identification and cause of death are pending.

SFM deputies determined that the fire started in the carport area. They have not been able to rule out the possibility of electrical malfunction due to improper wiring around the home.

At this time, deputies were unable to confirm the presence of a working smoke alarm.

If you need assistance obtaining smoke alarms for your home, Operations Save-A-Life can help. The program partners with local fire departments to install smoke alarms for free. To learn more about Operation Save-A-Life, visit our website at lasfm.org.

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