L’Observateur / July 31, 1999

LAPLACE – A gas leak is suspected as the cause of a fire Thursday at Lacy’s Lounge on West Second Street in LaPlace.

LaPlace Fire Chief Robert Bourgeois said some firefighters were affected by the smoke and heat, but no one was in the building when the fire broke out. The building was judged to be a total loss.Leroy Powers, owner of the lounge, said it had been closed for some time and he was leasing it to Aquiana Beckwith, who planned to re-open it next week.

Beckwith, who said she had just gotten her liquor license, had the gas turned on and the water heater lit at 2:30 p.m. She stayed at the premisesuntil 4 p.m. and came back at 7:15 p.m. “and this is what I found,” with theplace swarming with firefighters.

Bourgeois said firefighters tried to enter the front door but the roof collapsed, prompting them to pour water from all sides. He added he washampered by low water pressure in the area.

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