An explosion destroys a home in southwest Louisiana, killing 1 and injuring 5

RAGLEY, La. (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of an explosion that destroyed a southwest Louisiana home, killing an Alabama teenager and injuring five others.

Louisiana State Fire Marshal Bryan J. Adams said the explosion occurred Saturday morning. Firefighters arrived to find the house burning. The explosion leveled the house, hurled debris some distance, and severely damaged nearby vehicles and a metal outbuilding.

Killed was Deuce Barrere, 16, of Theodore, Alabama, local news outlets reported. Five other people were taken to hospitals, including Barrere’s older sister and mother. Adams said a young child who was inside the home was not injured and is being cared for by relatives.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy for this family and community,” Adams said in a statement.

Friends of Duece Barrere, who gathered on Sunday in Dauphin Island, Ala., to remember her, told WALA-TV that she was a high school cheerleader.

“When I was upset, he always made sure I was okay before I left and he always made sure everyone here was happy,” said Adalynn Hall, who said she is Barrere’s girlfriend.

Some nearby residents told KPLC-TV that the explosion felt like an earthquake and that the resulting shock wave knocked objects to the floor in their homes and caused power outages.

Ragley is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Lake Charles.

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