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Shreveport fire chief praises regional mutual aid after large Pratt Industries blaze
Summary
Shreveport fire officials said mutual aid from nearby jurisdictions and Pratt Industries’ on-site response helped contain a large March fire at the Port of Shreveport; city leaders thanked dozens of outside crews and noted no serious injuries.
Shreveport’s fire chief told the City Council that a March multi-alarm fire at Pratt Industries required mutual aid from neighboring departments and more than 100 firefighters on scene.
The Shreveport Fire Chief said Pratt Industries’ employees initially operated the plant’s water systems and that Bossier City and several volunteer fire districts provided trucks, cascade systems and crews. “We had over a hundred firefighters there,” the chief said, describing a response that included Bossier City Fire Department, Caddo Parish volunteer districts 4, 5 and 6, and DeSoto Parish units.
Why it matters: Council members and the mayor framed the incident as a reminder that interagency relationships are vital to protecting large industrial employers and supporting economic development tied to the port. A Pratt Industries representative told the council the company resumed operations within about 24 hours and emphasized that no one was seriously injured.
Council members and city staff described logistics challenges on a busy weekend and said city departments — especially Water and Sewer — were critical. The mayor and council thanked the fire crews and partner agencies for their response and said an after-action review will identify improvements.
Pratt Industries representatives said wind contributed to rapid spread and that company crews assisted with water towers and on-site suppression efforts. The Shreveport Fire Department said it pulled units after stabilizing the scene and will follow up with an after-action review; the chief said the department will share lessons learned to benefit other facilities.
Council members specifically thanked the Bossier City fire chief for quickly dispatching resources and praised utility and public works staff for on-scene support. The mayor said the city will consider changes identified in the after-action review and reimbursements where required if the city exercises any contract termination-for-convenience provisions related to facilities affected by the incident.
The council did not take formal action during the report but directed staff to continue coordinating follow-up reviews and safety checks at port facilities.
