9-year-old girl dies in Lafayette Apartments fire before 4 a.m.

A 9-year-old girl died after an apartments fire before 4 a.m. Sunday at Jace Place Townhomes on Barracks Street in Lafayette. Several neighbors tried to get inside to reach her, but the blaze blocked them.

The girl's mother and one other adult man were taken to a local hospital for injuries from the fire. Search crews found the child in an upstairs bedroom after the fire was brought under control.

Jace Place Townhomes fire response

Several 911 calls reported the fire early Sunday morning, and one person was possibly trapped inside when firefighters were dispatched. The Lafayette Fire Department responded along with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department, Duson Fire, Scott Fire and Judice Fire.

It took around 30 minutes of fighting to get the blaze under control. Search crews entered after the flames were extinguished and found the girl upstairs.

Barracks Street investigation

The fire spread through a four-plex apartment building, a setting that put multiple residents in the same structure at once. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

For the families inside Jace Place Townhomes, the immediate next step is the fire investigation itself, which will determine how the blaze started and whether any other safety issues are identified at the Barracks Street property.