Eighth fire in six months at vacant apartment complex in Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The former Oak Meadows Apartments caught fire again on Thursday, March 27, 2025. A spokesperson for the Shreveport Fire Department (SFD) said it’s the eighth time the abandoned complex has caught fire in the past six months.

Just before 6:00 p.m. on March 27th, firefighters on SFD Engine 5 were driving by the complex located at 1901 Centenary Boulevard when they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the first floor of one of the apartment buildings. They notified other fire crews and began putting out the flames.

It took the efforts of 24 firefighters operating twelve 12 units to quickly bring the fire
under control by 6:05 p.m. No firefighters were injured. This property remains vacant with no utility services. The exact cause of this fire remains under investigation.

“The SFD urges the public to continue being vigilant regarding vacant houses and structures within their communities. All suspicious activities should be reported to authorities immediately,” said Jeffrey Witte, SFD Fire Prevention Officer. “Doing so may decrease the likelihood of a fire or other emergency from occurring.”