Four Lacombe children die in mobile home fire

By Anne Lautzenheiser
St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, January 19, 2009 8:54 AM CST

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A mobile home that erupted in flames on a cold winter night has resulted in tragedy for a Lacombe family.

Four children were killed in the fire, which happened just after midnight at 25531 West Spruce St., on the edge of Lacombe near Mandeville. According to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office, twins Makaria and Makayla Perkins, 6, Latasia Perkins, 8, and Orlando Robinson, 10, were killed in the blaze.

The children were being watched by their grandmother and step-grandfather at the time of the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an oil-filled space heater in the children’s bedroom. According to Chief Rick Tassin of St. Tammany Fire District 4, the children’s mother arrived to find her home in flames.

“Fire was coming out of the windows and right through the walls,” Tassin said. “She tried to get in there, but it was too intense.”

One of the firefighters fell through the floor of the home and sustained a sprained ankle. The children’s mother, Latasha Perkins, and grandmother, Maxine Perkins, were transported to Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Mandeville, where they were treated for smoke inhalation. Their step-grandfather, Eddie Taylor, was taken to Louisiana Heart Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Tassin said investigators believe the home’s smoke detectors were not working at the time of the blaze.

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Comments

7 comment(s)

chelsea crandle wrote on Sep 21, 2009 5:24 PM:

" i no im late but i i am 12years old form bayou lacombe middle when i heard this i was terrified same thing happenm to me fire in fema tralie i sorry for the mother and grandparents she came to our school we had showed respect for her sorry you are in so much pain "

Natalie wrote on Jan 27, 2009 6:08 PM:

" Please, people, have some sympathy for this family. Say some prayers for them and keep your negative thoughts to yourself. "

BLH0701 wrote on Jan 27, 2009 3:09 PM:

" To the mother of theese four children my heart goes out to you and may god be with you during this difficult time.
You along with your parents are in my prayers. I could only imagine the pain you feel. God Bless you. "

Valerie wrote on Jan 23, 2009 8:13 AM:

" To wonderwhy:
The children were sleeping on one end of the trailer and the rest of the family on the other end--that is how some mobil homes are made-bedrooms on each end, just like a house. The entire mobil home was engulfed in flames within minutes. Don't you think these adults would have grabbed the children if they could. You can't imagine the grief and heartache this mother and grandparents are feeling...don't be heartless-have sympathy and compassion for them. "

northshore native wrote on Jan 22, 2009 9:15 PM:

" read the article - the fire started in the childrens bedroom!! "

ms wrote on Jan 21, 2009 2:08 PM:

" we are freinds of that family, its a very sad situation our hearts and prayers are with them. they will always be in our hearts and never forgotten.. i think whomever that commented why ...obviously has never gone through a trailer fire... tasha we love you god bless "

wonderwhy wrote on Jan 19, 2009 7:50 PM:

" So can someone explain to me how four children died, and the adults are alive. They couldn't grab not even ONE child?????? "

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