Vermilion Parish firefighters team up to battle Abbeville house fire

Vermilion Parish firefighters joined forces to combat a house fire in Abbeville that took over an hour to control.
The Abbeville Fire Department was called to 202 West Oak Street, near the Main Fire Station, around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Abbeville Fire Chief Jude Mire noticed the fire and realized his department would need assistance to put it out, so he contacted volunteer fire departments from Seventh Ward, Erath, Maurice, and District 13.
About 25 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze in the brick home of Ronald Gaspard. Although Gaspard and his family were not present when the fire started, they arrived later as the firefighters were extinguishing the flames.
Chief Mire praised the volunteer firefighters for their contribution, especially in dealing with the smoke.
“We needed manpower,” said Chief Mire. “After two oxygen tanks, the men were getting tired. It was hard to fight it.”
Acadian Ambulance was also present, and the medics checked the firefighters’ blood pressure after they used two air packs.
Fortunately, none of the firefighters were injured.
The fire departments stayed at the home for four hours.
Mire confirmed that the house was destroyed, but it was too early to determine what started the fire.