Man, at least 7 cats dead in Blanchard house fire

BLANCHARD, La. (KSLA) — A 47-year-old man and several of his pets are dead after a house fire in Blanchard.

It happened Tuesday, July 11 just before 2 a.m. in the 7100 block of Billie Lee Lane, the Louisiana fire marshal’s office reports. When firefighters searched the home, they found a man in a bedroom and pulled him out of the flames. Lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, officials say. At least seven cats were also killed in the fire.

The Caddo coroner’s office later identified the victim as Jayson Crist.

Results of the autopsy are pending.

Preliminary investigation shows the fire started in an add-on sunroom of the home, where investigators found many connected extension cords and power strips throughout the room. An electrical malfunction related to unsafe wiring may have caused the fire, according to the fire marshal’s office. It’s also possible the fire was caused naturally due to severe weather in the area at the time, the office reports.

No working smoke alarm was found in the home.

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