Shreveport FD tackles blaze at vacant Villa Norte apartments

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Shreveport Fire Department crews were dispatched to the vacant Villa Norte Apartments in the 1600 block of Fullerton Street.

At 10:23 a.m., SFD received the report for the fire. Units responded and noticed a fire at the front of the complex. When they saw two additional fires in the rear of the complex, they called for a second alarm, dispatching more units. Additional units arrived in 3 minutes. A total of 18 units responded, and the fire was contained by 10:48 a.m.

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Previously owned by Amar Shreveport Holdings LLC, the Villa Norte has been vacant since a safety declaration issued by Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux on June 5, 2024.

The City of Shreveport cut off utilities to the property due to non-payment and poor conditions affecting hundreds of residents. According to their attorney, Dhu Thompson, Amar Shreveport Holdings LLC pleaded no contest to criminal blight of property charges for issues at multiple properties, including Villa Norte, and was fined $2,890.50.

Daniel McDonnell, Administrative Assistant to the Shreveport Fire Chief said, “when we have an abandoned complex that’s not kept up, there’s always a question as far as the safety is concerned for our firefighters. Our incident commander is on scene, our safety officers, they have to be diligent, as well as our firefighters that are inside- and actively working and fighting fire to keep safety in mind and a priority.”

McDonnell says while SFD is adequately staffed, fire require them to restructure.

“We relocate stations across the city, so we don’t have large gaps in service areas, but yes, I mean it does, while our attention is turned elsewhere and we do have- but our personnel is diminished because we’re on scene at a different location,” said McDonnell.

This is the second fire at Villa Norte in 2025, requiring 13 fire units and 26 firefighters, one of whom was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

McDonnell says Shreveport Fire Department is having an ongoing discussion with the Mayor’s office, the City Council, the Fire Chief and the Shreveport Police Department as far as what can be done to the letter of the law, to keep personnel and citizens safe.