Woman Dies in Early-Morning House Fire in Snellville

SNELLVILLE, Ga. – One woman was found dead following an early-morning house fire Sunday in a Snellville neighborhood, authorities said.

Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 1:04 a.m. to a reported house fire in the 3000 block of Jonathan Court after a 911 caller reported that a neighbor’s home was on fire and that a woman was still inside the residence.

When crews arrived, they found a working fire at a two-story, split-level home, with flames heavily involved in the garage and extending into the attic. Firefighters also encountered severely cluttered living conditions that created additional safety challenges during search operations.

Crews initially attempted to enter through the front door but were forced to back out due to a partial collapse in that area of the home. Firefighters then re-entered from the rear of the house. During the search, crews located one deceased female inside a bathroom.

While search operations were underway, additional fire crews deployed four hose lines to bring the fire under control, which was accomplished around 1:42 a.m. Firefighters also used a chainsaw to open a boarded-up front window to provide a secondary means of egress for crews operating inside the home.

The house sustained extensive fire damage to the garage, second floor, and attic and was deemed a total loss. Significant smoke and water damage was reported throughout the main living areas. Medical crews on scene provided rehabilitation services to firefighters, and no injuries to fire personnel were reported. A fire chaplain was also requested to assist firefighters at the scene.

Authorities said two adults were inside the home when the fire began. The husband told investigators that he and his wife were sleeping when a smoke alarm sounded. He said he went downstairs to investigate and found the garage on fire, then evacuated the home while yelling for his wife to get out. When he realized she had not exited, he attempted to extinguish the fire before running to a neighbor’s house to call 911.

Smoke alarms were present in the home at the time of the fire. The surviving occupant was displaced, and the American Red Cross was requested to provide assistance.

A fire investigator determined the fire originated in the garage. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.