A home that burned in Forsyth County over the weekend, killing two children, did not have working smoke alarms, according to state fire investigators.
John F. King, Georgia's Safety Fire Commissioner, released the information Tuesday morning, saying the specific cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation. He said investigators do not suspect foul play.
"I cannot stress enough how important it is to practice an escape plan with your family in case of emergency and to have working smoke alarms in your home. Unfortunately, this particular home did not have working smoke alarms at the time of the fire," King said in a press statement.
King said so far this year, fires have killed 70 Georgians; 58 of these fatalities occurred in 48 residential fires, and only five of the residences had working smoke alarms.
The home at 2015 Apple Valley Court in Cumming was reported on fire at 2:40 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. The house was destroyed.
The bodies of the children, ages 9 and 12, were found in an upstairs bedroom of the home, according to King. Their mother escaped the fire.
While authorities have not publicly released the names of the children, friends and family members have established fundraising efforts via Go Fund Me to assist the parents with burial expenses for Shaun Noe and his younger sister Morgan Noe.
Follow the links below to learn more about them:
