The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a fatal weekend house fire near Dahlonega, but officials say it appears it was accidental. A male, who has yet to be identified, was killed in the fire on Rose Creek Lane.
According to officials, the fire broke out around 8:18 a.m. on Sunday, January 23, and completely destroyed the 16-year-old, 200-square-foot residence.
“Upon extinguishing the fire, the victim’s body was found inside the structure,” says Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. “Due to the severity of the fire, no exact cause has been pinpointed at this time, and the deceased has been transported to the GBI crime lab for autopsy and identification.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Investigations Unit is assisting Lumpkin County Emergency Services, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lumpkin County Coroner’s Office in this investigation.
This marks the 17th fire death in Georgia this year. Several of those deaths have occurred in North Georgia, including the January 21st death of Demorest resident Johnny Higginbotham and two people who died in a fire on January 13 in Rabun Gap.
