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SFM: Houma man dies in house fire, unsafe smoking likely a factor in fire

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A Houma man is dead following a house fire on Monday evening.

State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies say they are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding a house fire that claimed the life of a Houma man.

At around 5 p.m. on February 22, the Bayou Black Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call for a house fire located in the 200 block of Union Street in Houma. Firefighters say that upon arrival, they found a woman outside of the home. She reported to first responders that her disabled husband was still inside.

The body of they man was later discovered in the home’s dining room.

While official identification and cause of death are pending an autopsy, the victim is believed to be the 73-year-old homeowner. After an assessment of the scene, deputies determined the fire originated in the home’s kitchen/dining room area.

The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined but deputies are not ruling out the potential that unsafe smoking practices are a contributing factor. Deputies learned the victim was a smoker and had limited mobility.

His wife reported waking up to the smell of smoke and attempting to locate her husband before having to flee the home.

The SFM wants to remind Louisiana residents that it is always best to smoke outdoors. Ensure all smoking materials are properly extinguished in the appropriate manner and keep all spark-producing objects, like lighters, out of the reach of children. Also, refrain from smoking when tired or under the influence of alcohol or medications that make you drowsy.

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