Overview
- Firefighters responded to a blaze at building 7 of the Chateau Carmel Apartments in Little Woods and arrived around 1:30 a.m., bringing the fire under control by roughly 2:45 a.m.
- Crews ordered a second alarm after completing door-to-door evacuations and contained the fire largely to two unoccupied third-floor units.
- No injuries were reported and the Red Cross was called to assist displaced residents; officials said at least four people were displaced while local reporting put the number as high as 13.
- Several apartments below and next to the burning units suffered smoke and water damage, and the complex—which was undergoing renovations—had many empty units at the time.
- The New Orleans Fire Department is treating a lightning strike as the likely cause and is continuing its investigation while city and management officials coordinate recovery and aid.