Five family members, including two young children, were killed in the early hours Tuesday after a fire engulfed a home in Decatur. The fire broke out just after midnight, and upon arrival at the scene, firefighters noticed heavy smoke and flames coming from the home. They were informed that a resident of the home said there were others trapped inside. Of the ten people inside the home — all from the same family — five made it out of the home, though some suffered injuries in the process, including a pregnant woman who was able to escape with her children. However, the woman’s sister, her three- and six-year-old nieces, and two of her uncles died in the blaze.
Around 30 firefighters worked to rescue residents and extinguish the blaze, and no injuries were suffered by firefighters. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the DeKalb County fire chief says that there have been 29 fires this month, with many starting as a result of the use of space heaters for warmth or overloading outlets. The chief also noted that area residents should check their smoke detectors regularly, as about 50 percent of house fires occur in the late night or early morning hours when people are sleeping and may not be aware of the smoke.
In addition to improper use of space heaters and overloaded outlets, house fires can also be caused by faulty wiring or product defects. The owners or managers of rented residential properties can face liability if they fail to provide smoke detectors in the home or to mitigate known hazards such as faulty wiring that can cause injury to renters. Additionally, manufacturers of products used in the home — such as stoves or other appliances — can be liable if a product defect was the source of a fire.
If you were injured or lost a loved one as a result of a fire that occurred due to the negligence of a property owner or a defective product, an experienced attorney from Cambre & Associates LLC can help you understand your options for seeking compensation for your injury or loss. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling 770-502-6116.