Two LaGrange men were killed after two separate house fires in the early hours of Thursday and today.
LaGrange firefighters responded to a fire at 138 Martha St. about 1 a.m. Thursday. Two victims, identified as brothers Thomas Roberts, 56, and Donald Roberts, 53, were transported to West Georgia Medical Center. They were later transferred to Grady Hospital in Atlanta, where Thomas Roberts was pronounced dead. His daughter Abby, 16, who also lives at the home, was not inside at the time of the incident.
Donald Roberts’ condition was unavailable this morning.
Carlton Woodson Jr. lives across the street and said he owns the Martha Street home. He has been renting the home to the three tenants since 2009.
“I woke up at about 5 a.m. to the sound of engines,” he said. “I don’t know how I didn’t hear it all sooner.”
Woodson said the house had at least one working smoke alarm.
“The fire department said I had to have one when they inspected the home for rental,” Woodson said.
In a second, separate incident, LaGrange fire and EMS personnel responded to 617 Hines St. about 2:11 a.m. today. According to a report, a 39-year-old male victim was pulled from the building and emergency personnel began CPR on him. Police officials said he was transported to West Georgia Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim’s name was not released this morning because the family had not been notified, Troup County Coroner Jeff Cook said.
“Both victims appear to have died due to smoke inhalation,” Sgt. Marshall McCoy said.
Cook said both victims’ bodies were being transported to the GBI medical examiner’s office in Atlanta for autopsies, where a final cause of death will be determined.
Both fires started in the kitchens and have been ruled accidental, according to police. The damages for the incident on Martha Street are estimated at $50,000, including property and contents. The damages for the incident on Hines Street are estimated at $15,000, LaGrange Fire Department officials said.
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