Man Dies In Bartow County House Fire

ADAIRSVILLE, GA — One person died and two others escaped injury in a house fire reported early Tuesday in northwest Bartow County. Three engines, a squad and a battalion from the Bartow County Fire Department were all dispatched to the blaze at 7:41 a.m. Jan. 15 at the corner of Rock Fence and Barnsley Gardens roads.

Officials received multiple reports of "heavy smoke and fire" coming from the home, said Dwayne Jamison, Bartow County Fire's deputy chief.

Firefighters arrived to learn there were three people — a woman and two men — who were home when the fire ignited. One of the men woke up, saw the fire and tried to put it out with a carbon dioxide extinguisher, but was unsuccessful, Jamison said.

The home was 75 percent involved by the time the first engine arrived and the roof was beginning to cave in to the structure. Jamison told Patch crews worked to fight the fire as other engines arrived. They entered the home and found the victim, but they determined he was dead by the time they were able to get to him. Jamison said fire officials were informed the male was disabled, and the two residents tried to rescue him. However, they were overcome by smoke and the flames.

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The male's body was turned over to the Bartow County Coroner's Office. Joel Guyton, the county's coroner, said the body has been transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab to get a formal identification and determine a cause of death.

"The fire is thought to be accidental, but is still under investigation by the Bartow County fire marshal," Jamison added. "The exact cause has not been determined at this time."

The two residents who escaped did not seek any medical treatment, and no injuries were reported from fire personnel, Jamison said.

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