Shreveport Firefighters Battle Texas Avenue Commercial Fire

At approximately 2:48 AM on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Shreveport Fire Department was dispatched to reports of a commercial building fire located in the 2000 block of Texas Avenue.

Upon arrival at 2:53 AM, the first fire crew from Station #8, led by Captain Mark Myers (Engine #8), encountered heavy black smoke emanating from the left side of the masonry building.

Firefighters immediately initiated a coordinated attack to suppress the blaze. However, due to the excessive equipment and materials stored inside the building, crews faced significant challenges in accessing the fire. In order to effectively combat the flames, additional personnel were called in, and multiple forcible entry tactics were employed to breach the structure and reach the fire. Despite these challenges, the fire was successfully brought under control at 4:22 AM— approximately 90 minutes after the first crew's arrival.

A total of 17 fire units and 38 personnel, including firefighters and support staff, responded to the scene. Thankfully, there were no injuries to any of the firefighters during the operation. The building, which had no utilities connected at the time of the fire, posed many hazards to the firefighters due to the fire’s heavy smoke presence and the conditions inside.

The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by the Shreveport Fire Investigation Office.

“We are grateful that our crews were able to respond swiftly and work in a coordinated manner to bring this fire under control without injury,” said Chief Mike Pharr. “Our team’s training and expertise were critical in overcoming the challenges posed by the building’s contents and structure. We will continue working closely with investigators to determine the exact cause of this fire.”