Denham Springs house fire kills three
Family mourns loss of law student, EMT trainee, and 96-year-old grandfather
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (WAFB) - Three people died in a house fire Saturday morning in Denham Springs, including a law student, an EMT trainee, and a 96-year-old man.
Officials said the fire happened on Wanda Street.
RELATED: ‘Multiple fatalities’ reported following fire on Wanda St. in Denham Springs
The victims were identified by family members as Kirsten Vidrine, her best friend, Danielle Ricard, and Vidrine’s 96-year-old grandfather, who family members called Papaw Garrett. Vidrine’s father survived the fire but remains hospitalized, according to family members.
Vidrine was a law student at Southeastern Louisiana University, hoping to practice criminal law.
“Very smart, very smart. First of the grandkids to go to college,” said Amanda Broussard, Vidrine’s aunt.
Ricard had just finished EMT training. Her instructor told WAFB that their class of nine is struggling with the news of her death.
“We actually found her bag with all her school work in there, just now, she was engaged, they were gonna be married, I think within the year,” said Janett Broussard.
Fire investigation continues
Amanda Broussard said the fire was electrical and started in the living room. The State Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire remains under investigation.
Ricard and Vidrine spent many nights in the house, and Ricard was considered family, according to relatives. The house served as a gathering place for family celebrations.
“It was the meeting place for Christmases every year up until my mom passed a couple years ago, and then we’ve been trying to get kind of back to that, but then my sister passed, which was her mom,” Amanda Broussard said.
Amanda Broussard said her mother died a couple of years ago, and her sister, who was Vidrine’s mother, died less than six months ago on July 20.
“She passed July 20th, and now this, so it’s just like - you work so hard to move past it, try to move on, try to build better memories, but you just never know,” Amanda Broussard said.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.
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