Adult and three children killed in south Louisiana house fire

RACELAND, La. (WGNO) — An adult and three juveniles are dead following a house fire that happened in Raceland in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 24.

According to the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, firefighters with the Lafourche Parish Fire District 1 responded to the 100 block of Rodriguez Drive around 1 a.m. on a report of a house fire.

On scene, it was found that a 46-year-old occupant was able to escape the home and was hospitalized. Four other people were, however, found dead. According to the coroner’s office, they are 20-year-old Ben-naja Robinson, 14-year-old Ben Bradley Jr., 12-year-old Karlie Bradley and 6-year-old Dre’Trell Bradley.

“I heard windows starting to break and they were trying to get to their children in there and immediately I called 911 and they just couldn’t get here quick enough,” neighbor Joey Woodward said.

This tragedy has left the neighborhood shaken, including Angelle Kraemer, who lives near the home, and her grandson, who she said played many afternoons with the children.

“He’s very sad about it. They rode bikes. They played basketball. They hung out together sometimes. It’s just sad,” Kraemer said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has identified three smoke alarms that were located inside the home, but so far has not been able to determine if they were working at the time of the fire.

Joey Woodward, who lives across the street, tells WGNO that he did hear a loud beeping noise coming from the house.

“I did hear like the beep, beep, beep, but I mean, there was so much smoke. You couldn’t even see the house,” Woodward said.

For now, a community is left to wonder how this tragedy happened and why a mother is living her worst nightmare.

“I mean four kids all at one time. It’s terrible. No one should have to bury a child, much less all four at one time,” Kraemer said.

Investigation as to the cause of the fire remains underway.

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