Fire Breaks Out at Historic Lafayette Motors Building in Freetown

The Lafayette Fire Department swiftly responded to a major fire at the old Lafayette Motors warehouse early Wednesday evening. The building, occupying an entire block at the intersection of Lacour Avenue and Stewart Street, became the center of attention as thick black smoke was seen billowing from its structure.

According to KLFY, Firefighters were dispatched to the scene promptly at 6:52 p.m., diving into action to control the fire's spread. Local residents and neighbors quickly took to social media to report their sightings of the dark smoke, which was visible from various parts of the town.

Leslie Westbrook, a photographer with the Advocate, managed to capture dramatic images of the unfolding scene. Her photos clearly showed flames engulfing parts of the roof while black smoke surged from the open areas of the warehouse.

As of now, the Lafayette Fire Department has announced that the fire is contained. However, firefighting teams remain at the location to monitor and manage potential hotspots, ensuring the fire doesn't reignite or spread further.

The incident is especially concerning, given that Louisiana is presently under a red flag warning with burn bans in place, implying severe fire risks due to prevailing conditions.

The cause of the fire at the old Lafayette Motors building remains unknown at this time. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as more information is released by the Lafayette Fire Department.