HOUMA, La. (AP) -- Fire killed three women and a 3-year-old girl and critically injured a man Wednesday at a house in Houma.
The man, who was on life support Wednesday, was among five people who escaped after the fire broke out shortly after midnight, said Bayou Cane Fire Chief Jerry Gautreaux.
The dead were identified as Velma Touro, 64, her daughters, Tammy Touro, 45, and Antoinette Touro, 35, and Antoinette's daughter, Darlene Touro, 3.
Velma Touro's husband, Lawrence Touro, 65, was listed in serious condition at Terrebonne General Hospital. He was on life support, Gautreaux said.
The four who escaped safely were identified as the child's father, Terry Malbourgh, 22; John Freeman, 63, a family friend; and Ernest Touro, 41 and Louis Adams, 62, whose relationships to the others were not immediately available.
The women and child all were dead when firefighters arrived at 12:35 a.m., Gautraux said. He said they probably died of smoke inhalation, because their bodies were not badly burned. Autopsies were ordered.
A woman and the child were found in one bedroom. The other two women were in a separate bedroom, one lying in a bed and the other sitting in a chair, Gautreaux said.
Bayou Cane was among three fire departments which responded.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
