UPDATE: Remains of house fire victim identified
Published 9:22 pm Wednesday, November 29, 2023
The victim of a fatal house fire in Elton on Saturday night has been identified as a 67-year-old man.
William “Billy” Manuel Jr. was killed in the fire at his home in the 8500 block of U.S. 190 in Elton. A dog also died in the fire.
Services for Manuel will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Ardoin Funeral Home of Elton.
Manuel’s body was found inside the home, along with the dog, after the blaze was brought under control.
Firefighters from Jeff Davis Fire District No. 6 were called to the fire around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The home was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arrived.
Manuel’s body was later recovered in the living room area of the home with his dog nearby.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but investigators believe the fire began near where the victim was found, according to Ashley Rodrigue of the State Fire Marshal’s Office
Investigators have been unable to rule out the possibility of unsafe heating practices or an electrical malfunction associated with improper use of extension cords, she said.
No working smoke detectors were found in the home.