Fire damaged a vacant home Monday morning in the 200 block of East Second Street near the Evangeline Thruway.
The Lafayette Fire Department says firefighters were on the scene of the fire which began around 6:00 am. When firefighters arrived on scene, flames were coming from the front door and windows of the vacant structure. Emergency crews were able to control the fire within 10 minutes.
A search of the structure was performed and no one was inside. The house sustained heavy fire damage.
A spokesperson for the department, Alton Trahan, says the home had been vacant for at least a year. There were no utilities services and the home was not secured.
According to neighbors, the vacant structure was being occupied by homeless individuals seen entering the unsecured structure frequently. Fire officials confirmed that clothing and sleeping items associated with homeless activity were inside the dwelling.
Fire investigators determined the fire originated in one of the rooms. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Investigators are attempting to identify the person or persons sleeping in the vacant house. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Lafayette Fire Department at 291-8716 or Crime Stoppers at 232-TIPS.
Video shared by a viewer shows flames emerging from the home.
(Video Courtesy J. Larry Blount)
