New Orleans firefighters battled two early morning fires, including one that forced the closing of Earhart Blvd. in Hollygrove.


The first fire happened at about 3 a.m. in an unoccupied single-family home in the 200 bloc of North Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the one-alarm fire under control.



Investigators say they found evidence that the fire was intentionally set.


At about 4:20 a.m., firefighters responded to a four-plex in the 8600 block of Colapissa, the rear of which was fully engulfed in flames.


Firefighters rapidly called second and third alarms, bringing a total of 21 units and 68 firefighters to the scene, as the fire spread to an identical four-plex next door, and they closed Earhart Blvd. to ease access for trucks and equipment until the fire was out.


Both Colapissa structures were padlocked shut and had no utilities. The cause of this fire is under investigation.