Bossier City fire and police personnel responded to a fire today that heavily damaged a home and a bus in the 200 block of Benoist  Circle in north Bossier City. An off duty Bossier City police officer and an off duty Bossier City firefighter who were both driving in the area were the first to respond to the scene upon seeing thick black smoke coming from the area and immediately called for help. When they arrived they found fire coming from the home's attached garage and from a bus that was parked in the driveway. Flames had already broken through the roof above the garage. They along with several police officers who also arrived on the scene got the three occupants out and away from the house, one of whom was attempting to put the fire out with a garden hose. The man sustained burns to his hands and arms and was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport for treatment for what appear to be non-life threatening injuries. Another man in the home received a cut on his arm and was treated at the scene by BCFD personnel. A woman who was also in the home escaped without injury. While the officers and firefighter were getting the occupants away from the burning house there was explosion from inside the garage.

BCFD arrived on the scene and took crews about a half hour to bring the fire under control. One firefighter received a minor burn to his hand due to the radiant heat from the fire even though he was wearing his protective gloves. He was treated at Willis-Knighton Bossier and later returned to duty. There were several pets inside the house at the time of the fire. Two dogs were over come by the heavy smoke and died. Several birds that were kept inside the garage also were killed. Firefighters pulled three other dogs and a cat from the home that had sustained smoke inhalation. Firefighters administered oxygen to the animals and they are expected to recover.
The Bossier City Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire and is also trying to determine what caused the explosion in the garage during the fire.

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