Investigation Continues After New Iberia Woman Dies In House Fire

A house fire in New Iberia claimed the life of a woman Monday according to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office in a press release, and they are still investigating what happened.

This sad tragedy started to unfold at around 9 o'clock Monday morning at a home in the 5200 block of Norris Road, and the woman who perished was 74-years-old.

A man who lives at that home told firefighters who came to the scene that this woman was still inside.

He told investigators that his mother told him she heard a popping noise outside the front door, and he saw fire coming from an air-conditioning unit. When he was unsuccessful in putting out the fire with a hose, he and a neighbor tried going into the house, but they couldn't save his mother.

The Iberia Parish Coroner's Office is now tasked with the duty of determining exactly how this woman died. She was found dead near the back door of the mobile home. The man told investigators they tried to save the woman, but the ceiling was falling down on them.

Investigators say they are still looking into all the details of this case, but they have determined that the fire started in the living room of the mobile home.

Officials with the State Fire Marshal's office report that the air-conditioning unit the woman told her son about, can not be ruled out as having something to do with this fire.

State Fire Marshal's officials remind you that you should never go back into a burning home. They also remind you to make sure you have working fire alarms in your home.

You can find out more information about how to get a smoke alarm by clicking here.