Three people were killed Saturday in a house fire in Elbert County, according to State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King.
King said in a release Elbert County Emergency Services responded to the home at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Crews were alerted that multiple people were trapped inside.
“Upon arrival, fire officials found the residence fully involved with flames and immediately began fire suppression," King said. "After the fire was contained, firefighters entered the home in search of victims, only to find that all three occupants had succumbed to the fire.”
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office conducted a fire scene examination and determined the cause was a clothes dryer that was operating overnight. The fire was determined to be accidental.
"Georgians doing laundry at home should remember to turn off the dryer when leaving home or going to bed, and always clean the lint trap before each load of laundry," the release from King said.
Additional clothes dryer safety information is available here.
