16-year-old dead, 5 hospitalized in house explosion

RAGLEY, La. (KPLC/Gray News) - The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office said a 16-year-old died and five others were hospitalized in a house explosion on Saturday.

The residential explosion took place just before 10 a.m. in the 1100 block of Pullin Road in Ragley.

Investigators have confirmed seven people were in this home at the time of the explosion.

The five survivors were hospitalized in various stages of injury. The final survivor, a toddler, is being cared for by relatives.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy for this family and community,” said State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams, “This investigation is still very much active, but we have a top-notch team working diligently to get as many answers for this family as possible.”

State Fire Marshal public affairs director Ashley Rodrigue says Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies are at the scene assisting firefighters from Beauregard Fire District No. 2.

“Firefighters arrived to find a large debris field, fire and several injured survivors,” said Rodrigue.