By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — A house fire of as-yet undetermined origin badly burned a man in LaPlace Sunday night.

He remained in a Shreveport hospital as of Thursday afternoon, although one woman who sustained smoke inhalation has since been released, while another received stitches for a cut.

LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Snyder Jr. reported the fire alarm at 713 LeMoyne Drive was one of several incidents, which kept his department hopping that night.

&#8220It was a pretty hairy night,” Snyder said.

The alarm on the house fire came at 11:37 p.m., and units arrived at 11:23 p.m., some from an earlier motorcycle accident on Airline Highway near the truck scales.

The front bedroom of the house, owned by John and Jackie Casady, was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived, Snyder reported. John Casady was outside the front of the residence and told firefighters two other people were still inside the home.

Firefighters Michael Allert and Paul Anders made entry, aided by a thermal imaging camera, to locate Jackie Casady. She was taken out of the house, not burned but also not breathing.

Firefighters Mel Perret and John Weaver took over the initial medical treatment and restored her breathing, continuing to assist when Acadian Ambulance arrived.

Meanwhile, Jackie Casady’s brother, Brian Gauthier, had escaped from the rear of the house, with 80 percent of his body covered in first and second-degree burns. There had been no other occupants.

Acadian Ambulance initially transported Gauthier and his sister to River Parishes Hospital. He was later flown to a Shreveport hospital for more specialized treatment.

In addition, a female neighbor, whose name was not available, had also attempted to make entry and received cuts which required stitches. She was transported to St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher.

Reserve Volunteer Fire Department responded to a mutual aid call and a total of 15 firefighters responded to the residence fire.

The blaze was under control in 15 minutes, Snyder continued, with heavy damage to the front bedroom, moderate damage to an adjacent bedroom and the hallway, and smoke and water damage throughout the house.

Four Acadian Ambulance units responded, transporting the three injured and one remaining behind for the firefighters, if needed.

Earlier that evening, LaPlace VFD responded at 10:43 p.m. to an auto accident on Interstate 10, where a car had apparently caught fire, and at 10:58 p.m. at the truck scales. Both drivers were transported to River Parishes Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The investigation is being handled by the State Fire Marshal, assisted by the LaPlace VFD and the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, Snyder said.