Police and Fire Briefs for Nov. 26, 2012

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- A house fire broke out Saturday night on Winter Oak Avenue, destroying the roof and parts of the interior. The occupants escaped without injury after a passerby knocked on their door and told them to get out.

Passerby gets people out of burning house

A passerby warned the occupants of a burning home Saturday night that their house was on fire, getting them safely out before the Fire Department arrived to fight the blaze, a St. George Fire Department spokesman said.

St. George firefighters received the 911 call about 7:20 p.m. Saturday that the home at 14708 Winter Oak Ave., was ablaze, spokesman Eldon Ledoux said in a news release.

When firefighters arrived, the fire was burning through the roof, Ledoux said.

The fire started in the attic near the chimney, he said, and burned through the roof.

Virtually, the entire attic burned, Ledoux said, causing severe damage to the home.

Firefighters controlled the fire in about 30 minutes. No injuries were reported, Ledoux said.

Five arrested on suspicion of DWI

Authorities arrested at least five people suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, booking records show.

Those booked and the counts against them:

Dexter Boutte, 22, 7160 Chisolm Ave., Baton Rouge, first-offense DWI and vehicular negligent injuring.
Scott Forte, 33, 10418 Springvalley Ave., Baton Rouge, first-offense DWI, improper window tint and reckless operation of a vehicle.
Lisa Gasery, 50, 9323 Pecan Tree Drive, Baton Rouge, first-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
Patrick Nelson, 45, 5474 Martin Luther King Parkway, St. Gabriel, first-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
David Williams, 45, 318 Kentucky St., Port Allen, first-offense DWI, stop lamps and turn signals required, and operating a vehicle while under suspension for a prior offense.

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.