Fatal house fire claims one life in Epworth

Fannin County EMA/EMS, News

EPWORTH, Ga. – Fannin County Emergency crews responded to a fatal house fire in the early evening hours of Thursday, March 1.

A call came into Fannin County E-911 at 5:32 p.m. of a porch fire located at 2111 Old Epworth Road in Epworth.

Firefighter Britt Jones, first to arrive on the scene, quickly noticed that the fire had spread and was beginning to engulf the home.

Jones radioed for back up personel and also requested law enforcement assistance to close off roadways and direct traffic.

“The fire started on the ground floor front porch,” Fire Chief Larry Thomas said, explaining the rapid spread of the flames, “and it moved up to the balcony porch above. When we got there about eight minutes after the initial call, the fire had entered the second floor and the attic.”

A death that occurred Thursday evening, March 1, in connection with a fire at this residence on Old Epworth Road in Epworth is still being investigated the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Neighbors and passers-by had attempted to alert anyone that might be in the home. These good samaritans informed emergency personnel that they had knocked on doors and windows in an effort to locate anyone that might be inside.

Engine 4, Engine 5 and Medic 4 responded to the urgent situation. A total of 18 firefighters were present to battle the flames.

Along with fire and medic engines, a Light and Air unit was also on the scene. A Light and Air unit is a specialized piece of firefighting equipment used to provide supplemental lighting and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air bottles at the scene of an emergency.

Firefighters were able to extinguish flames around the entry way of the house and upon ascending the steps of the front porch where the initial blaze began, emergency workers instantly located a body.

The discovery of the deceased initiated crews to immediately enter the structure and search for others that might be trapped in the home.

“Crews were on scene until around 10 p.m. that night,” Thomas recalled of the events of the evening.

According to rental history of the property, the current tenant is listed as Matthew Stevens. The body of the deceased, however, is yet to be identified and is presently in the possession of Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

While the cause of the fire is officially still under investigation, EMA workers on the scene report that the deceased had been creating Lichtenberg Figures in wood, and it is likely that this hobby led to the fire as well as the death.

Blue Ridge, Fannin County, Epworth, Georgia, Fannin County Emergency Management, EMA, Fannin County Fire Department, Fire Chief Larry Thomas, Firefighter, Britt Jones, Fatal Fire, Lichtenberg Figures

An example of Lichtenberg Figures burned into wood.

These Lichtenberg Figures are created when wood is burned using electricity. Equipment for this dangerous hobby was found on the front porch. The official cause of death has not been released but is speculated, due to the equipment found, to be caused by electrocution.

This is the first fatal fire that the Fannin County Fire Department (FCFD) has responded to in 2018. FCFD responded to three fatal fires in 2017.

Thomas would like to remind residents that when fire hoses are across roadways to please avoid that roadway. A vehicle running over one of these hoses can damage the line and interrupt the water flow.

“I know it can be inconvenient for drivers, but these lines really are our number one tool in fighting fires,” Thomas explained. “The interruption in our supply line can be very dangerous for our crews on the scene.”

 

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5 Comments

  1. Carol B Scoggins March 5, 2018 at 7:44 pm

    I would like to be on your list. The coverage of this was great.

  2. Carol B Scoggins March 5, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    I would like to be on your list for Fannin and Union Counties. The post about the fire was great.

    • Natalie Kissel March 6, 2018 at 9:57 am

      Thank you for following FetchYourNews. You can sign up for our newsletter on the right hand side of the page. This will bring you updates for Fannin and Union counties.

  3. Wesley Stevens March 5, 2018 at 10:16 pm

    Thank you for reporting this, Just wanted to note that you spelled his last name wrong, Stevens is his last name. But seriously thank you I am in NC and this is my brother.

    • Jason Beck March 6, 2018 at 9:45 am

      Thank you for bringing that to our attention. We have made the correction in the story, and I apologize for the error.

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