"You Can't Fight a Fire Without Water": Broken Hydrant Sparks Concerns After Algiers Blaze Displaces Dozens
A night that was meant to be filled with celebration turned into a moment of tragedy for many residents of Algiers on New Year’s Day. Two separate fires left over 30 people displaced and sparked intense scrutiny about the city's infrastructure.
The most recent fire occurred just before 11 p.m. on Thursday along MacArthur Boulevard. Authorities confirmed that one person was injured, and four family cats lost their lives in the blaze. While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, it was an earlier fire—starting just an hour after midnight—that has led victims to demand answers from city officials.
A race against time
At around 1 a.m. on Thursday, Jacqueen Harrington arrived at her mother’s home on West Park Court only to find it engulfed in flames. Home security footage captured the tense moments as her family rushed out of the house, smoke filling the air.
Harrington stated that six people live in the residence. “I have my mom, my brother who is on dialysis, my sister and her three kids—14, 7, and 1 years old,” she said.
Although the family escaped without injury, they claimed their efforts to save the home were hindered by a lack of resources. Harrington alleged that when she arrived, no water was being used to fight the fire.
“I noticed there’s no water being put on the home. Why? Well, we don’t have any water, we can’t get to the hydrant, this one is stripped, the other one doesn’t have any water,” she explained. “They said just be happy that everyone is alive and out the house.”
Infrastructure under scrutiny
The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) acknowledged that the closest hydrant was not functioning but maintained that it did not significantly impact the outcome.
“The hydrant just in front of where the residence was rendered inoperable for whatever reason, so we used another one nearby,” the NOFD stated, calling the issue a “minor hindrance.”
While firefighters inspect hydrants annually, the responsibility for maintenance lies with the Sewerage and Water Board (S&WB).
In a statement, the S&WB mentioned that there were no previous reports of issues in that area but noted they would be replacing an operating nut on one of the hydrants in the coming days.
“Our crews were able to confirm that the hydrants in this area have appropriate pressure, and were onsite again this morning to operate and test the hydrants. To address any potential connection issues, the operating nut on one of the hydrants will be replaced in the coming days; however, no other repairs have been determined to be needed,” the S&WB said on Friday.
However, Jon Gusanders of the United Cajun Navy, which helped place all 18 individuals displaced by the fire into hotels, emphasized the need for transparency.
“I would personally love to see a list... shared with the public on what hydrants are faulty so we can hold Sewerage and Water Board responsible,” Gusanders said. “You can’t fight a fire without water.”
Gusanders added that he has observed hydrant issues at other fires in areas like the Irish Channel, Algiers, Uptown, and Gentilly.
Blaze may have been triggered by fireworks
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but evidence suggests it may have been linked to New Year’s festivities. Fireworks debris was found scattered throughout the neighborhood, and the homeowner reported that individuals were shooting fireworks in a back alley shortly before the fence caught fire. High winds then pushed the flames from the fence to the home, eventually spreading to the house next door, according to the owner.
“Careless acts of others caused this,” Harrington said.
As the smoke clears, the families are left trying to rebuild from nothing. They were able to salvage a few photographs, Harrington said.
“From now, we’re just starting today to just try to figure everything out and rebuild and come back stronger,” she said.
The Harrington family has set up a GoFundMe page to assist with recovery efforts.
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