House fire rages, injures firefighter
BY KELSEY MCKINNEY • MARCH 24, 2010

A dark cloud of smoke settled in over Shreveport's Highland neighborhood Tuesday night.
The source: a vacant house engulfed in flames, suspected to be a case of arson. The blaze in the 500 block of Herndon Street raged for more than two hours Tuesday night and injured Shreveport Fire Capt. Craig Mulford, 45, when the structure's ceiling collapsed on him and his crew.
He suffered first- and second-degree burns and possibly a back injury, Fire Chief Brian Crawford said. He was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport where he was stable in good condition today.
"I've got the radio in one hand and the phone in the other," Crawford said, explaining how he's managing to put out a fire while a firefighter with 28 years of service with Fire Engine 1 is laid up in the hospital.
Shortly after the collapse, Crawford said the Fire Department went into a defensive attack, tackling the fire from the outside. About 35 firefighters total were battling the blaze — a second alarm and two additional fire companies.
One firefighter atop a ladder truck was directing water down onto the flames bursting from the house's second-story roof. Meanwhile, fire engines lined Herndon Street and Gilbert Avenue spraying water from other angles onto the corner-lot house. Despite all the attention, the fire raged.
"This home was built in the 1920s and it was built with good, thick timber," Capt. J.D. Warren said, explaining why the fire was so difficult to extinguish. "It's like an oven. Until the ceiling collapses, we won't be able to put it out."
Warren pointed at a corner of the house where even after a full hour, new wood was just starting to burn.
"This is the third time. People are intentionally starting these fires," he said.
Crawford said he has two or three people of interest — people seen by neighbors coming and going from the long-vacant house.
The last fire was "a week ago tonight," Crawford said.
That fire started on the first floor and was quickly extinguished. But this time, the fire started on the second story and was pretty far gone when firefighters were called about 8:20 p.m.
Firefighters finally brought the fire under control more than two hours later. If found to be a case of arson, those responsible could "absolutely" face charges related to the fire captain's injury.
"In other cases when firefighters have been killed in fires, others have faced murder charges." Crawford said. Accordingly, "if this is arson, I think you'll find those additional charges added."

KTBS 3 News | Shreveport, LA: ArkLaTex News

Posted: Mar 23, 2010 10:17 PM
Updated: Mar 24, 2010 7:07 PM

Arson investigators on Wednesday interviewed "persons of interest" about a house fire that left a Shreveport Fire Department captain injured when the ceiling of a burning house collapsed on him.

Capt. Craig Mulford, 45, suffered a back and neck injury and minor burns on his back while fighting the Tuesday night blaze at a vacant house at Herndon Street and Gilbert Drive in the Highland neighborhood.

Mulford was treated at LSU Hospital and released early Wednesday, Fire Department spokesman Scott Wolverton said.

The fire, which had several points of origin, has been ruled arson. It was the third fire at the house this year.

The Fire Department said arson investigators have spoken with neighbors and have questioned three people about the fire.

The two-story house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. They battled the two-alarm fire for four hours before extinguishing it. Approximately three dozen firefighters were called to the scene.