[StBernard] Fire destroys Historic LeBeau Plantation

[Westley Annis]

Fire destroys Historic LeBeau Plantation

by WWLTV.com
wwltv.com
Posted on November 22, 2013 at 6:09 AM
Updated today at 6:34 AM

ARABI, La. -- An historic St. Bernard landmark is now a pile of ashes after
the Lebeau Plantation in Old Arabi, caught on fire overnight, and St.
Bernard fire officials say they were too late to save it.

Officials say just before 2:00 a.m. Friday, 6 engines were called out to the
3-alarm fire, and that there will be an investigation into what caused the
massive blaze.

Chief Thomas Stone of the St. Bernard Fire Department said, "It's
unbelievable to see such a beautiful building like that destroyed by a fire,
it's kind of a fire chief's worst nightmare to have a historical structure
destroyed by fire."

According to Chief Stone, the fire is being investigated as suspicious
because of the haste in which it spread throughout the structure. It was a
vacant building with no electricity.

A second structure next door to the plantation also caught fire because of
winds and hot embers coming off of the plantation home. The second structure
is also currently vacant and the fire has since been extinguished.

All that is left of the building are four chimney stacks. Chief Stone says
that the department is currently monitoring winds, possible hotspots, and
embers; to make sure the fire does not reignite. They have also set up a
collapse zone because of the chimneys.

The St. Bernard Fire Department will be on the scene until at least
mid-morning Friday, and will eventually be joined by the State Fire
Marshall's Office and ATF to help with the investigation into what happened.

This is the second time the LeBeau Plantation has caught on fire. In the
1980s, a fire caused damage to the roof and interior of the building.

The Old Arabi LeBeau Plantation was built in 1851. After its use as a
plantation, the building and grounds were once used as a hotel. It was
heavily damaged by hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has been vacant for a
number of years. Recently the LeBeau Plantation and its grounds have been
the site of the Old Arabi Sugar Festival, held annually in the area.