Ville Platte Fire officials along with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a house fire that claimed the life of a local man. Ville Platte Fire Chief Ted Demourelle said his department was called out at 2:02 this (Tuesday) morning for a house fire at  111 East Hickory Street. By the time, firefighters arrived at the scene of the burning structure , the home was totally engulfed in flames. The fire chief said one of two men in the home managed to escape the blaze by jumping out of a window. He received injuries and was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center for treatment. After firefighters extinguished the early morning fire, they discovered the victim’s body in a bedroom used as a storage area.  Preliminary investigation is leading fire officials to believe the fire began in the attic area of the home. The wood frame rental home is owned by Herbert Tezeno. The identities of the victim and the injured person have not been released. The investigation continues by local and state fire officials. This is the first fire fatality of the year in Ville Platte, according to the fire chief.