Tagged News

• A week after deadly pileup, crews still working to reopen I-55

  October 30, 2023 3:14 PM

  MANCHAC - One week after a fiery chain reaction crash that killed seven people and involved more than 160 vehicles, I-55 still remains largely unpassable at the site of the wreck. On Monday, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development shared a glimpse at the ongoing clean-up effort as... more »

• Livingston Parish lifts burn ban, joining handful of other capital area parishes

  October 17, 2023 2:45 PM

  The Livingston Parish government has lifted its parish-wide burn ban, joining a handful of others in the capital area to do so after getting the OK from the state. Livingston Parish will officially lift the ban starting 6 p.m. Tuesday. Other parishes to do so in the region include... more »

• Homeless man booked with burn ban violation after setting woman's clothes on fire, police say

  September 5, 2023 1:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A man was booked with arson and an additional charge for violating the state's burn ban after setting fire to a woman's clothing over the Labor Day weekend. The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested 46-year-old James Williams, who was described by BRPD as a homeless man,... more »

• Photos: Marsh fire leaves huge smoke plume over Houma

  August 30, 2023 3:05 PM

  HOUMA - A massive smoke cloud was spotted over parts of Houma and Thibodaux as firefighters monitor a burning marsh in the area. The Houma Fire Department said the fire was being handled by multiple agencies between Highway 90 and Savanne Road. The fire is said to be inaccessible... more »

• No barbecue at the tailgate? Governor asks football fans to pause grilling on game day Play Video

  August 30, 2023 1:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana leaders are suggesting that football fans adjust their game day rituals as the state continues to warn residents of the risk for rapidly spreading wildfires. The message came Wednesday as Governor John Bel Edwards and other state officials gave an update on the wildfires that... more »

• More than 33K acres burned in historic Tiger Island wildfire

  August 29, 2023 2:19 PM

  MERRYVILLE - A wildfire that's been burning for more than a week in western Louisiana has doubled in size in recent days, stretching to cover more than 33,000 acres of land. It's now the largest in the state's history. An update from the state on Tuesday said the Tiger... more »

• Deputies release new details in WBR chase that led to fiery crash; minor among 3 killed

  August 29, 2023 12:35 PM

  FORDOCHE - Weeks after a high-speed pursuit through multiple parishes led to a deadly crash, deputies have identified three people who were killed, as well as the sole survivor who is facing criminal charges. All four were inside a car that was fleeing West Baton Rouge deputies. Two of... more »

• State urging residents to take precautions as wildfires impact air quality across south Louisiana

  August 28, 2023 4:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana health officials are warning residents to take precautions as wildfires affect air quality throughout parts of the state. The warning Monday came just days after people around the capital area observed a haze and reported smelling smoke . Officials said that while no fires were... more »

• 'Operational issues' led to overnight flaring at ExxonMobil plant in Baton Rouge

  July 3, 2023 10:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A problem at ExxonMobil's plastic plant in Baton Rouge led to unscheduled flaring at the facility early Monday morning. Neighbors reported hearing a commotion and seeing flames coming from the plant on Scotland Avenue around 2 a.m. Monday morning. WBRZ asked representatives with ExxonMobil about... more »

• Man set Baton Rouge home ablaze in failed insurance fraud scheme, fire investigators say

  March 26, 2023 5:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Fire investigators arrested an accused arsonist after determining that he set fire to a vacant home in a botched attempt to get an insurance payout. The Baton Rouge Fire Department said Jeuane Session, 43, was booked Monday with a felony charge — arson with intent to... more »

• Woman set free after 2021 murder arrest booked again for setting car on fire

  April 28, 2022 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A woman who was booked last year in a murder case that never went to trial is back in jail after she allegedly set a car on fire next to someone's home. Terica Scott was booked Wednesday night related to an arson reported April 6 on... more »

• Dogs, hedgehog rescued from Baton Rouge house fire

  March 2, 2022 3:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters had to run into a burning home to rescue multiple pets Wednesday. The Baton Rouge Fire Department said the fire started around 10:30 a.m. on Lobelia Avenue, just off Choctaw Drive. Investigators later determined the flames were sparked by a "mechanical malfunction" in a vehicle... more »

• Woman allegedly set her roommate on fire, tried to do it again

  February 23, 2022 9:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A 66-year-old man told investigators his roommate doused him in rubbing alcohol and tried to light him on fire earlier this month, less than a year after she allegedly sent him to a hospital by doing the exact same thing. East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputies arrested... more »

• Child, 6, dies after mobile home fire in south Louisiana

  February 21, 2022 9:43 AM

  NEW IBERIA - A child died in the hospital after a fire broke out Sunday at a mobile home in Iberia Parish. The state fire marshal's office said the fire was first reported around 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Hunter Drive in New Iberia. The 6-year-old victim was pulled from... more »

• Three allegedly stole catalytic converters, set fire to vehicles

  September 28, 2021 1:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A trio of accused thieves allegedly set fire to multiple vehicles after stealing catalytic converters. The Baton Rouge Fire Department said three suspects had been arrested since Sunday: -Mi’Keyce Williams, 18 -Rajanee Williams, 21 -Matthew Etheridge, 39 The fire department said two vehicles were... more »

• Burn bans lifted for some parishes after Hurricane Ida

  September 1, 2021 4:46 PM

  The burn ban has been lifted in the following parishes following Hurricane Ida's landfall: Ascension Assumption East Baton Rouge East Feliciana Livingston Plaquemines Pointe Coupee St. Helena St. James St. Tammany Tangipahoa Washington ... more »

• Investigators searching for arsonist responsible for Saturday night house fire

  August 15, 2021 12:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A vacant house was intentionally set on fire Saturday night on N. 29th street, investigators say. According to Baton Rouge Fire Department investigators, firefighters were called to the house within the 1100 block of N. 29th street at 11:54 p.m. A rear storage area was engulfed... more »

• Hundreds of inmates evacuated from Angola dorms due to overnight prison fire

  August 11, 2021 1:00 PM

  ANGOLA - A late-night fire at the state penitentiary in Angola led to prison staff evacuating nearly 300 inmates from their living spaces. The Department of Corrections said the fire was reported around 1 a.m. Wednesday at the prison in West Feliciana Parish. A DOC spokesperson said the fire... more »

• Second vacant house fire in 24 hours ruled an arson

  July 11, 2021 7:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A vacant house on Missouri Street was intentionally set on fire Sunday afternoon, according to fire officials. Seven fire trucks went to 1835 Missouri Street around 4 p.m. to extinguish the blaze. According to reports, it took firefighters only 13 minutes to put out the flames.... more »

• Massive inferno at Hola Nola Foods facility likely sparked by electrical issue Play Video

  June 15, 2021 7:08 PM

  GEISMAR - A fire at the Hola Nola snack food factory in Ascension Parish was put out for a second time Wednesday after the flames rekindled in the early morning. Firefighters initially responded to the incident at the Hola Nola Foods facility in Geismar around 3 a.m., Tuesday. Video... more »

• Firefighter hurt in furniture store blaze along Plank Road

  April 1, 2021 4:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A fire that raged at a business for hours Thursday left a firefighter hurt. The Baton Rouge Fire Department arrived to the scene at In and Out Furniture around noon. The fire was burning around the rear loading area of the three-story furniture store, which was... more »

• Fire shuts down Hooper Road Tuesday evening

  March 23, 2021 7:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A burning building along Hooper Road shut down the highway to traffic Tuesday. The Central Fire Department said it was assisting District Six Fire with the situation around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The fire prompted officials to shut down the road in both directions near Foster Road.... more »

• UPDATE: Authorities arrest alleged abuser who set woman's car on fire

  December 7, 2020 7:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge man has been booked into the Parish Prison after allegedly setting a woman's car on fire near her home where she and her children were sleeping. The Baton Rouge Fire Department believes Patrick Chambers, 34, set the victim's car on fire Nov. 25... more »

• Man jailed for East Feliciana killings now charged with setting mobile homes on fire

  May 20, 2020 2:53 PM

  ETHEL - A man already facing charges for murder, attempted murder and robbery was booked on additional arson charges Wednesday. The State Fire Marshal's office announced that Deandre Galmon, 33, is facing two new counts of simple arson for allegedly setting two mobile homes on fire in East Feliciana... more »

• Iberville Parish set to discuss new law protecting American flag Play Video

  October 9, 2017 8:15 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - Residents in Iberville Parish say they'd back a new ordinance that would ban anyone from damaging or defacing an American flag. The proposal would cover the parish's flag along with the Louisiana state flag, with penalties range from a six-month stay in jail to a $1,000 fine.... more »

• Women rescued from burning car by Washington Parish deputy, then arrested

  July 14, 2017 6:13 PM

  WASHINGTON PARISH – Two women were rescued from a burning car by a Washington Parish deputy and then arrested on Friday morning. The incident took place in the Lee's Creek Road area as Washington Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Ronnie Manning spotted smoke as he was driving near... more »

• Firefighters extinguish large house fire in Baton Rouge Play Video

  March 1, 2017 8:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Firefighters responded to a large house fire in the Baton Rouge area Wednesday night. Crews arrived at the house at 9835 Everglades Ave. around 7 p.m. and reportedly put the fire out around 7:45 pm. Baton Rouge Fire Department officials say the cause of the... more »

• Coast Guard, good Samaritans help burning ship in the gulf

  January 16, 2017 2:23 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and good Samaritans are responding to a vessel that caught fire 150 miles south of Southwest Pass Monday morning. Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District command center received a report at 3:28 a.m. from the National Command Center of an electrical fire... more »

• Remnants of Clean Burning Ignitor destroyed at Camp Minden

  November 2, 2016 9:45 PM

  PINEVILLE - All remaining traces of Clean Burning Ignitor at Camp Minded have been destroyed following two large magazine burns conducted earlier in the week. A spokesperson for the Louisiana National guard says Explosive Ordance Disposal personnel from the Army's 797th Ordnance Company and 79th Ordnance Battalion in Forth... more »