State investigators say they still have not determined what caused a house fire that killed an elderly Stephens County woman.
Late in the morning of January 6, a passing driver reported a possible woods fire on Oak Valley Road. A second caller reported a residential structure fire on the same road, with a possible resident inside, the State Fire Marshal’s Office says.
Firefighters from Big Smith, Eastanollee, and Carnes Creek fire departments responded to the scene at 3048 Oak Valley Road. When they arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Additional firefighters were called in from Shiloh, Toccoa, and Martin.
After extinguishing the flames, firefighters discovered the woman’s body in the living room. State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said the victim is an 87-year-old woman who lived alone at the address. Her name has not been released. Stephens County Coroner Lee Woody says they are still awaiting positive identification by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner’s office in Atlanta.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this tragic loss of life,” says Woody.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is helping the Stephens County Fire Department and sheriff’s office with their investigation.
