A New Iberia firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion Wednesday morning after responding to a structure fire on St. Jude Street. 

New Iberia Fire Chief Gordon Copell said a report came in around 12:30 a.m. of a structure fire at 520 St. Jude St. The rear of the home was engulfed in flames, and the NIFD had the fire under control in less than an hour. 

Copell said one of the firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion and, after the fire was extinguished, was taken to Iberia Medical Center. The firefighter, who has been with the NIFD for at least 10 years, the chief said, was released Wednesday afternoon. 

“It’s a regular occurrence this time of year,” Copell said. “The bunker gear holds all that heat in.”

The cause of the fire is being investigated.