SNELLVILLE — An elderly woman died Sunday evening after firefighters pulled her from a burning home in Snellville, marking a tragic end to what neighbors describe as a chaotic rescue attempt complicated by downed power lines.
The fire broke out around 5:45 p.m. at a single-story house on the 2200 block of Eastwood Drive. Multiple people called 911 reporting flames shooting from the garage and smoke pouring from the home’s crawlspace. Callers told 911 operators there was an elderly woman trapped inside.
What Happened
When fire crews arrived, they found exactly what they’d feared. Power lines down across the driveway and heavy flames consuming the garage. The fire was already spreading into the main house.
Firefighters split into two teams. One group attacked the flames with hoses while another searched for the trapped resident. They found her on the first floor and immediately rushed her to waiting paramedics.
She was transported to a local hospital but died shortly after arrival. Officials haven’t released the elderly woman’s name.
Fire crews got the blaze under control by 6:13 p.m., less than 30 minutes after they arrived. But they stayed on scene for hours afterward, putting out hot spots and monitoring air quality in the neighborhood.
The Aftermath
One other person lived in the home but wasn’t there when the fire started. Neighbors were the ones who told him his house was burning. He declined help from the American Red Cross, though the home is now unlivable.
Fire investigators are still working to determine exactly what caused the fire, though they’ve confirmed it started in the garage.
By the Numbers
The response was massive for a residential fire:
- 3 fire engines
- 2 ambulances
- 1 rescue unit
- 1 truck company
- Multiple command vehicles
- 15+ total emergency vehicles
The investigation continues. Fire officials are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact them directly.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
