The Lake Charles Fire Department is dealing with a higher-than-average number of fires and officials say most of them are preventable.
According to fire department records, from March 1 to 15 the department handled 10 building fires, including one involving a death, and six grass fires.

In March 2009, firefighters handled four structure fires and five grass fires.

The Lake Charles American Press reported on Tuesday that Chief T.A. Jones with the Fire Prevention Bureau said the uptick during warm months is unusual. He estimates the fires have caused a little more than $700,000 in damage.