Victims Identified in Fatal House Fire
Alexandria, La. (March 2, 2020) — Investigators have released the names of the woman and her three grandchildren killed in a house fire in the early morning hours of March 1.
Victims were Verlana Cooper, 48, Jadyn Cooper, 7, Brooklyn Cooper, 4, and Drya Reign Russaw, 4 months.
The fire was reported in the 3400 block of Wainwright Street at 11:46 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, and firefighters were on scene for seven hours.
The fire remains under investigation. Officials will be waiting on the results of autopsies, which are scheduled to be conducted today, as well as other lab tests before an official determination as to the cause for the fire can be made. Those tests typically take a couple of days to complete. Determination of an official cause is not expected until later this week.
Alexandria Fire Chief Larry King noted the house did not have working smoke detectors. He reminds residents that the City of Alexandria will provide and install smoke detectors to residents in the city limits free of charge. For more information about getting a smoke detector, please call the Fire Prevention Department at 318-441-6607.
Agencies involved in the investigation include the Alexandria Fire Department, Alexandria Police Department, the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office and the State Fire Marshal.
Contact:
Jim Smilie
Communications
318.449.5038
318.730.1683
jim.smilie@cityofalex.com
