Mother, Two Daughters Killed in Overnight Fire

TUCKER, GA -- A woman and her two daughters were killed in an overnight house fire in Tucker, officials say.

Firefighters were still on the scene Wednesday morning at the 1000 block of Pointer Ridge in unincorporated Tucker, where the deadly blaze was reported at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

According to a Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services news release, firefighters arrived to find Brent Patterson injured man outside a two-story house that was “fully involved” in flames.

He told fire crews that the family was upstairs getting ready to go to bed when they heard popping sounds from downstairs.

He went downstairs to investigate and found the house’s lower level on fire. He told firefighters he yelled for the rest of the family -- his wife, Kathy, and daughters Kayla, 12, and Madelyn, 9 -- to get out of the house, then exited the home himself.

When he realized they hadn’t escaped, he said, he tried to go back in and help them, but couldn’t because of heat and smoke from the fire.

A neighbor also attempted to get into the house to help but could not, officials said.

Firefighters, too, were unable to enter the home when they arrived because of heat and smoke. The news release said that heavy winds assisted in spreading the fire -- which may have been started by a fire the family had in a fireplace -- quickly.

The exact cause of the blaze was still under investigation Wednesday morning.

An update from fire officials Wednesday afternoon said it started in an area near the fireplace, but also near an electric-powered reclining couch with lamps on either side of it. Investigators did not suspect foul play.

The home was so badly damaged in the fire that a support team was called in overnight to shore up first-floor walls that were believed to be unstable. The body of the third victim, one of the girls, was not found until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The family’s dog also was found dead inside the home Thursday morning. Firefighters buried the dog in the family’s yard “as a show of respect due to the overwhelming loss sustained by the family.”

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims during this difficult time,” Gwinnett Fire said in the news release. “This a tragic incident and serves as a reminder of the importance of following proper fire prevention and safety tips at home.”

(Photos courtesy Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services)