‘Bedridden’ woman dies when large fire rips through her home, Georgia officials say
A woman died after she was unable to escape a fire that ripped through her Atlanta-area home, Georgia fire officials said.
Crews were called just before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, and advised there was a woman in a wheelchair inside the burning home in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said in a news release.
Crews arrived at the two-story home and initiated an “aggressive search” for the woman who a bystander said was trapped on the main floor.
“Fire crews were able to locate the victim, noting the victim was obviously deceased,” officials said.
Authorities have not released her identity as of Jan. 16.
As the flames were extinguished, firefighters said the woman’s stepson arrived and told them his stepmother was “handicapped and bedridden, unable to escape on her own.” They both lived at the home, he told fire officials.
Crews did a sweep of the house, including the basement, and confirmed there was no one else inside.
Officials said there were no active fire alarms when the fire broke out. The blaze caused “extensive” smoke and fire damage to the upper and lower floors, firefighters said.
Officials believe the fire started on the main floor near a living room, though the cause is still being investigated.
Lawrenceville is about 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 8:07 AM with the headline "‘Bedridden’ woman dies when large fire rips through her home, Georgia officials say."