State investigators say a fire that killed two members of a White County family and seriously injured a third appears to be accidental.
53-year old Lisa Dodson and here 88-year-old mother-in-law Hazel Dodson, both died in the fire. Lisa’s husband, Freddie Dodson, was seriously injured.
The deadly blaze broke out around 2:49 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, at 125 Autumnwood Way in Cleveland.
A neighbor called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers people were trapped inside the home and he was attempting to rescue them. White County Sheriff’s Office personnel were the first to arrive on the scene. They helped get two of the family members out of the burning mobile home. When firefighters arrived, the middle part of the structure was in flames.
White County and Cleveland firefighters, along with deputies, initiated an attack on the fire. They called in mutual aid from Hall County and Lee Arrendale.
Lisa and Hazel Dodson both died at the scene. Their bodies were sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for autopsy and identification, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. White County EMS treated Freddie Dodson at the location. An air ambulance then flew him to the Grady Burn Center in Atlanta.
The Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office and the White County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the fire.
There have now been 59 known fire fatalities in Georgia in 2020.
