An 11-year-old girl died and a firefighter was injured Saturday evening when a fire engulfed a home in Spalding County, officials said.
Crews were called just before 5:30 p.m. to the residence in the 110 block of Sidney Drive near Griffin, according to Spalding County fire Chief Mike Byrd. Firefighters could see the blaze from more than a mile away, the chief said. When they arrived, they encountered heavy flames and smoke coming from both the first and second floors of the residence.
After learning someone was trapped inside, crews quickly went upstairs and found the girl’s body in a bedroom.
“She had already succumbed to the conditions and they were unable to revive her on scene,” Byrd told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The girl, identified as Katelynn Simonds by her family, went back inside to save her dog and became trapped, according to Channel 2 Action News. The Cowan Road Middle School student lived at the home with her mother, stepfather and brother. The dog reportedly did not survive.
“Her stepdad and her step-uncle tried to go in after her, and to no success. They couldn’t get in,” her step-aunt, Tressia Perry, told the news station.
The chief confirmed that other family members were at the home at the time of the fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to assist due to the “nature and severity of the incident,” according to a news release by the fire department Monday.
Investigators determined the blaze originated downstairs and was accidental, the release stated.
“After a subsequent investigation of the area where the victim was located, investigators were able to rule out any suspicion of foul play,” officials said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
According to Byrd, a firefighter sprained their ankle during the operation but they are expected to be OK.
The home is located just north of Ga. 92 near Heads Creek Reservoir.
In February, 23-year-old Madison Summerville died at the hospital after saving her three children from a fire at their home along Old Atlanta Road in Spalding County, about five miles east of Saturday’s blaze. The children were flown to Grady Memorial Hospital and were expected to be OK.
“Our family is having a terrible time with this because it was so sudden and now it’s just a hole left in our hearts that she once filled with so much joy,” Summerville’s sister, Chasidy Summerville, told the AJC after her death. “We do find some little comfort knowing she did all she could to save her babies, and then eight more (people were saved) by her organ donation.”
Byrd said some of the firefighters who responded to that home in February were at the scene of Saturday’s fire.
“It’s very hard on our firefighters and it actually is the same shift that ran that earlier call,” Byrd said. “We try to train and prepare for these type of events, but we don’t want to lose. They could see the fire well over a mile away so there was nothing we could do, but it doesn’t help them. They still felt very helpless ... (and) are hurting today.”
Byrd said it was unclear if the smoke alarms in the house were working Saturday. Still, the chief advised metro Atlantans to make sure their devices are working properly because “tragedy can happen anytime.”
A memorial full of balloons, stuffed animals and flowers now surrounds the family’s mailbox at the end of the driveway outside the charred home. To support the family, a GoFundMe page was organized over the weekend and had raised more than $4,300 as of Monday morning.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
“The Rollins family have been blindsided by the loss of their home and of their beautiful 11-year-old daughter Katelynn. Any money secured will be used for housing, clothing and laying sweet Katelynn to rest. Any amount you are able to donate is greatly appreciated, and if you aren’t able to contribute at this time, a share with your friends, family and community would mean the world to them,” the page stated.
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