MT. AIRY — An early-afternoon house fire claimed the life of a Habersham County man and injured two other people Tuesday.
The fire, at 2298 Cody Road between Ga. 365 and Camp Creek Road near Mt. Airy, was reported about 12:18 p.m.
It was called in by an occupant of the house.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens’ office identified the man who lost his life as Roy Dale Savage Jr., 30, of Habersham County, who was pronounced dead at Habersham Medical Center.
“One of the deputies was in close proximity to the house when the call came out,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Wurtz at the scene. “He got here, and he and another deputy assisted in getting a female out of the house. There was another male that was inside and, on top of that, another male that had actually gotten out of the house by himself.
“There was a male and a female that sustained pretty heavy burns,” Wurtz said.
Ginger Bleckley, 41, of Mt. Airy, the renter of the residence, was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she last was listed in critical condition, according to Hudgens’ office.
Gary Stratton Jr., 17, was transported by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center and was last listed in stable condition, according to Hudgens’ office.
“The fire occurred in the area of a sofa in the living room,” said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Hudgens’ office. “Investigators have determined that this is going to be an accidental fire and either candles or smoking materials could not be eliminated as the possible cause. All intentional causes of this fire have been ruled out.”
Several Habersham County fire stations responded, along with Clarkesville Fire Department, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Habersham County Emergency Services, Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department, and Habersham County Animal Care and Control.
“The house is actually pretty much in one piece, so it’s not a collapse of the house or anything like that,” Wurtz said. “It wasn’t a complete burn of the house to the ground or anything like that. They were able to get it out before then.”
Wurtz said the single-family, wood-frame home is about 1,700 square feet.
The afternoon fire is the 36th fire fatality in Georgia thus far in 2018 and the fifth in April, Allen said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/4/660833/habersham-county-man-perishes-in-afternoon-house-fire