BATON ROUGE — A devastating two-alarm house fire early Monday morning has left two families grappling with loss and uncertainty, displacing 20 people, including seven adults and 13 children. The fire, which broke out around 4:30 a.m. on December 2nd on Tracy Avenue, destroyed all their belongings and claimed the lives of two family dogs.
Firefighters are investigating the cause, which is believed to have started outside the home. While everyone inside escaped unharmed, the aftermath has left the families scrambling for housing and basic necessities.
Andrea Morales, whose sister’s family was one of those affected, recounted the heartbreaking series of events to UWK.
“My sister woke up to the smell of smoke and got all the kids out as fast as she could. She tried to fight the flames with a garden hose, but it was just too much. Everything is gone—clothes, school supplies, uniforms, everything they owned,” Morales said.
The tragedy is especially poignant for Morales’ sister, who has endured similar hardships in the past.
“This is the third time she’s lost everything,” Morales said, referencing Hurricane Katrina and the 2016 floods. “Every time, it hits just as hard. She’s devastated, but she’s resilient. She’s starting over again from nothing.”
Currently, the families are staying in hotels and moving between friends’ homes while they search for stable housing. The biggest need right now is a place to stay.
“They’ve received some donations, but there’s no place to store them. They need immediate shelter and everyday essentials,” Morales added.
Items needed
The families urgently need long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, socks, underwear, blankets, and pillows. Specific clothing and shoe sizes for adults and children, as well as diapers (size 4), pull-ups (size 6), and baby wipes, are also requested. Sizes are as follows:
Adults:
Amy: Women’s large/x-large pants, x-large shirts, shoes size 7.5–8
Ashley: Women’s 1x–2x pants, 1x shirts, shoes size 8–8.5 (wide width)
Andrea: Small to medium maternity clothes
Children:
Caden: Pants size 31–32, small men’s shirts, shoes size 9
Brain: Clothes size 14/16, shoes size 7–7.5
Manasseh: Clothes size 8/9, shoes size 2–3
Amaidiyah: Clothes size 5/6, shoes size 12
Eli: Clothes size 6/7, shoes size 13–1
Amelia: Clothes size 12 months, shoes size 3–4
How to help
A GoFundMe has been created to assist with expenses. Donations of items can be dropped off at:
7781 Kingsley, Denham Springs, LA, 70707
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Morales emphasized the gratitude they feel for the community’s outpouring of support. “Every little bit helps. It shows them they’re not alone,” she said.
For these two families, the road to recovery will be long, but they are determined to rebuild—with the support of a compassionate community by their side.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Help support UWK and their mission to continue providing you “The News You Deserve. Unfiltered.” Sign up to become a monthly patron via Patreon.
