Springhill Man Dies in House Fire

Last Saturday, July 2nd, the Springhill Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 100 block of 14th Street Southwest.  A woman in the home had run to a fire station nearby to get help, and to report that a man was still inside the burning home. Firefighters located the body of the victim in the back room of the home. The cause of death and official identification of the victim is still under investigation by the Webster Parish Coroner's office.  However, the victim is believed to be the 54 year old homeowner.

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Officials believe the fire was accidental, and started in the back room, where the victim was located. State Fire Marshal deputies have determined the victim was reloading ammunition when the fire occured in the room he was in. Witness statements indicated the fire erupted into an explosion, but the official cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Louisiana State Fire Marshal's office shared some safety basics regarding firearms and reloading ammunition, including the following proper procedures for handling and storage of primers and gunpowder

•    Make sure to follow all manufacturers instructions and recommendations for reloading equipment and components, including not exceeding recommended amounts of powder, and only using known powders.
•    Make sure you are not impaired or rushed when conducting any reloading pratices
•    Always wear eye protection, and do not smoke while conducting reloading operations.
•    Finally, do not store powders in bulk, and always keep your reloading space in a clean and orderly fashion.