FRANKLINTON, La. — On Monday afternoon, State Fire Marshal deputies began investigating a fire in Franklinton, involving one death.
Around 2:45 p.m., Washington Parish Fire District #3 responded to the 29000 block of Roscoe Dillon Road for reports of a trailer fire.
Firefighters discovered the body of a male occupant inside the residence.
A relative discovered the fire when visiting the resident to check on their well-being due to the extreme cold temperatures.
While official identification and cause of death are pending an autopsy, the victim is believed to be the 53-year-old homeowner.
After an assessment of the scene, deputies determined the fire originated in the trailer’s living room which had been converted into the occupant’s bedroom as well.
While the exact cause remains undetermined, investigators cannot rule out the possibility of improper wiring or unsafe smoking practices as contributing factors.
Deputies located evidence that the power source for the trailer was shared with a second manufactured home and a camper on the property through a spliced wiring system. In addition, the damaged trailer had multiple extension cords connected to one another running throughout the structure.