The Lafayette Fire Department was called out to an apartment fire at Diamond Lake Apartments just after 1 o'clock this morning.

Spokesman Alton Trahan says no one was injured, but four apartments sustained fire or smoke damage.

The Acadiana Chapter of the American Red Cross says the blaze affected five families, and they are currently assisting 15 people, including 6 children.

Trahan says the fire started in apartment number 25 occupied by Ria Kidder and Kevin Richards along with their two children, ages 4 and 5 years old.

Everyone was asleep when the two adults awoke to find their bed on fire.

They got their children out of the home, and they tried several times to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher but were unable to put the blaze out.

Firefighters arrived to find the flames had spread to the second floor apartments.  Firefighters quickly doused the flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Tony Credeur, Community Chapters Executive Director of the Acadiana Red Cross says,

"We're deeply saddened for those affected," said Tony Credeur, community chapters executive.  "As we continue to help the residents, we want others to take steps now to lower the risk of a home fire."

Credeur adds that the Red Cross volunteers helped coordinate assistance in the form of food, shelter, clothing and emotional support due to fire damage to the homes, as well as referrals to other community partners.

The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan.

Here are their recommendations about smoke alarms:

  • Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
  • Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms.
  • Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
  • Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home.
  • Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.

Red Cross volunteers who assist at such fires are members of the Acadiana Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or redcross.org/acadiana.

To make a financial donation to your local Red Cross to help people affected by house fires and other disasters here in the United States and around the world, you can click, call or text – visit www.redcross.org/acadiana, call (337) 234-7371, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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