Autopsies are being conducted to confirm the identities of two men found dead inside a burning mobile home in Banks County. Banks County Coroner Mark Savage says the men’s names and cause and manner of death will not be released until confirmed by the state medical examiner’s office. Both men were in their 30s, fire officials say.
Investigators are working to determine what caused the fire.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3, Banks County Fire and Emergency Services units responded to a reported structure fire at 4664 Highway 51 South. Banks County Fire Chief Steve Nichols says the single-family residence was approximately fifty percent involved when they arrived.
Several people were home at the time of the blaze and advised firefighters two more occupants were still inside. Nichols says firefighters made an aggressive interior attack and rescue attempt. They found one of the men in a bedroom off the main fire area.
“The victim was removed, and resuscitation efforts were started with no success,” says Nichols. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
After they knocked down the fire, firefighters found the second man dead in the room where the fire started.
While at the scene, a Banks County firefighter suffered a shoulder injury, overexertion, and heat-related illness. EMS transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, where he was expected to be treated and released.
No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters remained on the scene through the early morning hours Saturday. An active investigation is underway to determine what started the fire and how the men died. The Banks County Fire Department, coroner and sheriff’s office, and state fire marshal’s office are involved in that investigation.
The mobile home sustained heavy fire damage. The American Red Cross is helping the residents who were displaced.
