LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — A Lafayette family is recovering after a fire tore through their home on the 200 block of Bellridge Drive overnight, destroying vehicles, belongings and years of memories; but sparing their lives.

Homeowner Butch Ousse said the fire began in the carport late Friday night and spread rapidly through the attic and main living areas of the house. He, his wife, son and three dogs all managed to escape unharmed.

“It’s a nightmare fire,” Ousse said. “It was really bad. I yelled at my son, ‘Come on, there’s a fire in the house!’ We each grabbed a dog and ran out the front door.”

Ousse said his wife first smelled smoke and heard a pop, prompting her to check near the back of the house. That’s when she discovered the flames.

“She got up to see what it was, and it was already really under fire,” he said. “The flames were just unbelievable.”

The fire gutted the family’s vehicles and destroyed much of the attic, which was filled with holiday decorations and sentimental items. But amid the devastation, one object stood untouched: a Saint Anthony statue, more than 100 years old.

“It’s been in my family for over a century,” Ousse said. “It was in our dining room. Untouched. Hardly any smoke damage. Nothing. Makes you believe.”

Firefighters arrived quickly and were able to contain the blaze before it could spread to neighboring homes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“You think it’ll never happen to you,” Ousse said. “But in the back of your mind, you better prepare; especially if you have animals. You’ve got to be ready.”

The Ousse family now plans to relocate and begin a new chapter somewhere else in Lafayette Parish. For now, they say they are grateful for what truly matters: their lives and each other.

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