Advocate staff and wire report
October 04, 2012
JENNINGS — A disabled 55-year-old man died Monday night in a fire at his home in Jennings, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said Tuesday.
Firefighters found the remains of Kenneth Riggs after extinguishing a fire at 211 E. Willis St. sometime after 11:30 p.m., Browning said in a news release.
Riggs was one of three people inside the home when the fire started.
Riggs’ mother, Marguerite “Maggie” Riggs, and his brother-in-law, Leon Davis, escaped from the home without injury .
Davis, 51, attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose, but his efforts were unsuccessful, Browning said.
Davis then tried to rescue Kenneth Riggs, who used a wheelchair, but the intense heat and smoke forced him outside, Browning said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The American Red Cross announced it is providing temporary housing, food, clothing, shoes and health and mental health services to the survivors.
