[StBernard] Trailer fire in Hopedale claims life of man, dog early Thursday

[Westley Annis]

Trailer fire in Hopedale claims life of man, dog early Thursday
by Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune 
Friday January 02, 2009, 9:43 AM
A man and a dog died inside a Hopedale trailer that caught fire two hours
into the new year, according to the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department.

The one-alarm blaze broke out a little before 2:10 a.m. Thursday and
completely engulfed a trailer home standing at 7810 Hopedale Highway, said
Deputy Chief Glenn Ellis.

Firefighters that put out the blaze found the dead bodies of a man and a
dog, Ellis said. Fire officials told reporters Thursday that they believed
the man was 40.

Dr. Bryan Bertucci, St. Bernard's coroner, said his investigators haven't
been able to positively establish the man's identity. Investigators have a
good idea of who he is, but they will have to use his dental records to
identify him, Bertucci said. 

There were no fingerprints or facial features to work from because "he was
burned beyond recognition," he added.

Ellis said investigators can't establish the exact cause of the fire until
the investigation is completed, but St. Bernard Fire Chief Thomas Stone
speculated to local television reporters Thursday that the man authorities
believe died in the trailer was a smoker and that perhaps a cigarette was
the cause.

Stone, who couldn't be reached Friday, also said a space heater found near
the victim's remains may have sparked the fatal fire.