A fire that completely destroyed a Douglas County home Sunday morning also claimed the life of the 46-year-old man living there, fire officials said.
The home was so badly burned that investigators could not determine whether there had been a working smoke detector, county spokesman Rick Martin said.
The man killed was identified as James “Jim” Norris, authorities said. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Firefighters were dispatched to the home in the 3100 block of Christy Ridge Drive in Douglasville just before 5 a.m., Martin said. Responding crews found the single-family home engulfed in flames and learned it was still occupied.
“Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames of the two-story structure early Sunday morning before it began spreading to nearby homes,” Douglas County fire Chief Roderick Jolivette said. “Cadaver dogs with the Georgia Search and Rescue Team and heavy equipment was used to go through the debris in search of the man who was reportedly inside the home at the time of the fire.”
Investigators said Norris’ body was found in the garage.
“Fire investigators look at incidents like this as a reminder for everyone to check to see if they have a working smoke detector,” Martin said.
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