LAFAYETTE, La. (Dec. 14, 2023) – Lafayette firefighters responded to a vacant structure fire in the 2100 block of West Willow Street at 8:06 a.m. this morning. Firefighters arrived at a fully involved structure with heavy smoke venting through the roof. First responders combatted the fire for approximately twenty minutes before getting it under control. The building sustained heavy fire damage.
The vacant structure was utilized for storage by the owner. The owner indicated that they had several instances of homeless people getting inside the structure.
With the assistance of Lafayette Sheriff Deputies and Lafayette Police Officers, an individual was identified as occupying the structure. Fire investigators arrested Reginald Riggs, a black male from Opelousas, Louisiana, for one count of Simple Arson and Unauthorized Entry.
