New Orleans firefighters

Busy night for New Orleans firefighters leaves 3 residents injured 3 pets dead

The New Orleans Fire Department reported an especially busy Friday night in the city, beginning with the six-alarm fire just before 8:30 p.m. that destroyed the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church at 2101 Prytania St., as well as the adjacent house at 2113-5 Prytania St.Several hours later, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at 2012 Toledano St. The building, which was vacant, sustained heavy damage. Also damaged was the vacant building next door at 2014/2016 Toledano St. No one was injured.

About 10 minutes later, firefighters responded to another two-alarm fire at 6219 Pasteur Blvd. in Gentilly. One of the occupants of the two-story home was burned over 80 percent of his body and was transported to the Baton Rogue Burn Center. Another resident received burns to her hands but refused treatment. Two dogs and a cat were killed in the fire.

Shortly before 5 a.m., firefighters were called to a one-alarm fire at 6111 Erin Drive in eastern New Orleans. A resident of the house received lacerations to his hands and arms while escaping through a window. He was taken to Tulane Hospital.

In response to the multiple fires, the NOFD officials urge citizens to remember the importance of fire safety during winter months.

Officials recommend that citizens make sure they have a working smoke detector, that textiles and flammables are kept away from space heaters and open flames, and that an escape plan is practiced every month. The best plans, officials advised, include two ways out of every room.

Orleans prosecutor cited in Wyoming for taxi take-away

A Wyoming newspaper is reporting that a New Orleans assistant district attorney has been charged with a misdemeanor offense for allegedly driving off in a taxi left unattended with the engine running in front of the Virginian Saloon in Jackson Hole.

On Monday, prosecutor John Alford pleaded not guilty to the charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle in Teton County’s 9th Circuit Court, according to the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

A taxi driver reported to police that his cab, left running and unattended in front of the Virginian Saloon, was missing just before midnight on Sunday.

Police identified Alford as the suspect seen on video surveillance.

“John Alford kept this office Click here to find out more!
informed of the situation,” said Christopher Bowman, spokesman for the Orleans District Attorney’s Office. “He was cited for a misdemeanor offense and the office is looking into the matter. We’ll take the appropriate action after the case is resolved in Wyoming.”

Alford faces up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines if convicted.

Alford was part of the team of prosecutors that tried Michael Anderson, the 23-year-old who in 2009 was found guilty on five counts of capital murder and sentenced to death for the June 2006 shooting deaths of five teens in Central City. The verdict was later overturned and a new trial ordered after it was determined that prosecutors withheld evidence.•