Officials don’t suspect arson caused a house fire that killed two people Monday night in Walton County, authorities said.
About 10:15 p.m., firefighters were called to a home on Lee Byrd Road, Loganville police Assistant Chief Dick Lowry said. The blaze, which appeared to have started in a back right living area of the home, had engulfed the structure by the time firefighters arrived.
“It was a very, very hot fire,” Lowry said. “It burned some cars that were in the backyard as well as the house. And it took them some time to get the fire knocked down.
“And once they did get the fire knocked down and could search inside the house, we did have two victims inside the house that were unable to get out.”
The preliminary investigation revealed the cause of the fire was likely accidental and investigators said smoking was a likely cause, according to fire officials with the Loganville Fire Department.
This is the first fatal fire of 2016 in Loganville, Lowry said.
Officials could not tell if the victims were men or women.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution photographer is on the scene.
No other details were released.