A man died last week and his mother was seriously injured after firefighters rescued them from a house fire in Southwest Atlanta. Firefighters say that they arrived at a chaotic scene Wednesday night, with heavy smoke visible as they entered the Colorado Trail neighborhood and bystanders yelling that there were people inside the home before responders even had the opportunity to park their truck. The firefighters heard a woman screaming from the home and rushed in within moments.
Using a thermal camera and a flashlight, the firefighters were first able to locate a man inside the building. They got him out and began administering CPR. Crews then busted open the front door of the home in order to find the woman, who was still screaming inside.. Both victims, identified as a mother and son, were transported to Grady Hospital. The male victim did not survive his injuries. The female victim was admitted to the burn unit at Grady Hospital with serious injuries.
Disturbed by the scene they witnessed, firefighters returned to the neighborhood on Saturday to hand out free smoke detectors and masks for residents, stating that they want to be proactive in ensuring that people have the opportunity to be alerted when there is a fire and time to get to safety, instead of needing to be rescued from a burning building. The cause of the house fire remained under investigation over the weekend.
According to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, a small flame can become an out-of-control house fire in less than 30 seconds. The fire will produce dark smoke that makes it nearly impossible for a resident to find their way out, and within five minutes, the heat from the fire become so intense that it causes everything in the room to ignite.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of a house fire caused by someone else’s negligence, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the financial and emotional costs of your injury or loss. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
