YOUNGSVILLE, La. — Youngsville Fire Chief Blair Rivette’s home was destroyed in a blaze Monday.
The department received the call in the early morning, and recognized it was the chief’s house.
“It definitely gives you a sense of urgency, because we’re a big family,” Captain Austin Shotwell said told KATC. “That’s the top dog in the family, so you definitely feel a little nervous and scared at the same time for him when you get there.”
Rivette’s daughter alerted the family when she woke up and smelled smoke; no one was injured.
The two firefighters on-duty that night called others at home to wake them up to come help, but immediately went to the chief’s house to battle the blaze.
“When they got there, Chief Rivette was outside and he was having to hook up the hydrant and pull hose lines to help them out, because like I said there is only two people,” Shotwell said. “He was more concerned about the safety of our guys being only two guys trying to go in there by themselves.”
The firefighters kept the fire in check while other departments arrived on scene.
Nearly all of Rivette’s home was destroyed and heavily damaged by smoke, water and fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The department stuck around into the afternoon to provide moral support to the chief and his family.
“We have always tried to help out when people’s houses in Youngsville catch on fire by donating furniture and we’ve helped out cleaning out houses and Blair has spearheaded a lot of that,” Shotwell said. “I hope we can do the same for him after all he’s done for the community.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Rivette and his family.