Officers quick reaction saves four people

A.M. FIRE - Fire consumed most of the Neighbor’s Bar on Cushing early last Tuesday morning. Only exterior walls were left standing after fire consumed the downstairs bar and upstairs living quarters. The cause is under investigation.

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An alert police officer on patrol last week saved the lives of four individuals.
Two men, one woman and a child who lived upstairs in the building which houses Neighbor’s Lounge were alerted to a fire that had consumed the bar downstairs.
Kaplan Police Officer Rustin Comeaux, a two year veteran of the force, was on routine patrol when he spotted a fire behind the bar.
The officer called the Kaplan Fire Department, then tried putting it out with a fire extinguisher and called for assistance.
Knowing they had people living upstairs, he was able to break the door and entered the building. Upon climbing to the second floor, he encountered another locked door which could not be opened.
Two other police officers, Seth Comeaux and Austin Miller, arrived to assist Comeaux.
The three officers quickly went to the front of the building where Seth Comeaux and Miller were able to lift Officer Comeaux to a second floor balcony.
There he was able to break the door and enter the living quarters. He alerted the sleeping individuals of the fire and all were able to escape with no injuries.
Fire Chief Donald Meaux said the department received a call at 1:48 a.m. Tuesday, June 23 of the fire at the lounge on Cushing.
Assisting the Kaplan Fire Department were firemen from Little Chapel, Leleux, Meaux-Nunez, Indian Bayou and District 13.
Meaux stated the cause of the fire is currently being investigated by the State Fire Marshall.
The building is owned by Roger LeBlanc.