A Eunice man, Darrell Rigmaiden, died in an early Saturday morning house fire.
On Saturday morning at 1:35 a.m. the Eunice Fire Department responded along with St Landry District 6 to a reported working structure fire located at 250 Mill Street in Eunice.
According to Eunice Fire Chief Chaise Brown, “The initial reports indicated that an occupant was still inside the residence. Crews arrived at 1:39 a.m. and advised that heavy smoke and fire were visible from mid structure. Crews immediately began suppression efforts, deploying hand lines from ladder 6 and gaining entry into the structure.
“Firefighters encountered very heavy smoke and fire conditions in the kitchen area of the dwelling. Crews focused their attention on interior suppression efforts and victim search achieving a very quick knock down of the majority of the fire and unfortunately successfully locating the victim still inside the structure.
“Crew members immediately extricated 55 year-old Darrell Rigmaiden from the dwelling to waiting Acadian Ambulance crew members but no medical intervention was possible at that time. Secondary searches were performed and revealed no other occupant within the dwelling. Fire suppression was completed and Louisiana State Fire Marshal was contacted to continue investigations.
“The origin of the fire was deemed to be in the kitchen area, particularly the stove but exact cause is still being investigated.
“The Eunice Fire Department would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Rigmaiden, our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of such tragic loss.”
