SAVANNAH — State fire officials are investigating a fatal fire at a home near Savannah that took the life of one person July 5.
Shortly before 2 p.m. on the afternoon of July 5, Chatham County Emergency Services responded to a residential fire on Mark Circle near the city of Savannah in Chatham County. When they arrived on scene, the roof of the 18-year-old, 1,680-square-foot mobile home was entirely ablaze, with the rest of the home suffering significant fire damage.
After extinguishing the fire, responders discovered the body of an elderly victim on the floor of one of the bedrooms. The body was immediately transferred to the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler for an autopsy, which indicated smoke and soot inhalation as the cause of death.
The victim has not been identified.
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“Investigators with our office and Chatham County Emergency Services discovered significant damage to a window air conditioning unit in the bedroom where the victim was found,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. “Unfortunately, there was also evidence of heavy smoking in the bedroom in question.”
Commissioner King’s Fire Investigations Unit is assisting Chatham County Emergency Services and the Chatham County Police Department with this investigation. At this time, no criminal intent is suspected.
There have been 48 reported fire fatalities in Georgia in 2020.