Five Family Members Killed in Tragic House Fire in Whitfield County
Five people have tragically lost their lives in a house fire that destroyed a residential property on Tree Top Lane in the City of Cohutta early Wednesday morning, January 8, 2025.
The Whitfield County Fire Department received a call about the fire at 3:30 a.m. and immediately dispatched nine fire trucks and two battalion chiefs to the scene. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, but the property was completely destroyed.
The victims of the fire were identified as:
- Brenda Sandifer (aged 74)
- Brittany Sandifer (aged 26)
- Joshua Sandifer (aged 5)
- Jacob Sandifer, Jr. aged (4)
- Legend Sandifer (aged 2)
They were all members of the same family.
The fire remains under investigation, but early indications are that an electrical malfunction caused the fire.
“On behalf of the Whitfield County Fire Department, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family who has experienced this unimaginable loss,” said Whitfield County Fire Chief Paul Patterson. “We are fully committed to supporting the investigation into the cause of this fire.”
This is a joint investigation involving the Whitfield County Fire Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
