Fatal Fire Friday Ruled Accidental

An investigation confirmed that a fatal fire Friday in Stephens County was an accident.

67-year-old Gwendolyn Bohannon and her 39-year-old daughter, Amy Bohannon, died in a fire that occurred at a doublewide mobile home Friday evening on Linda Drive, which is off of Rose Lane, in Toccoa.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said investigators revealed that the fire was the result of an electric space heater being placed too close to a sofa.

In addition, Insurance Commissioner Office Spokesperson Glenn Allen said the investigation found that Gwendolyn died while attempting to rescue her daughter, who was immobile following a recent back surgery.

There were no other injuries to report as children at the home escaped unharmed.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that both women were apparently overcome by intense smoke and were found dead beside each other in a back bedroom of the mobile home.

The sheriff said deputies were close by when the fire call went out and arrived shortly after the call.

Shirley said that when deputies arrived, they found the mobile home totally engulfed by fire.

He said attempts were made by family and authorities to rescue the victims, but the intensity of the fire made those efforts unsuccessful.

The Toccoa and Carnes Creek Fire Departments responded to the scene to put out the fire and also responding were Stephens County EMS and the Stephens County Coroner’s Office.