Man trapped inside of a house fire dies of smoke inhalation, Peach County coroner confirms
.jpg "Person trapped in house fire dies of smoke, others escape, Peach County Coroner Kerry Rooks said. Fire marshal investigates the incident in Byron, Georgia.")
A man died from “smoke inhalation” during a house fire in Peach County Monday morning, according to county Coroner Kerry Rooks.
The fire appeared to be accidental and occurred around 4 a.m. in the 300 block of Giles Road, Rooks said.
Matthew David Austin, 53, was “trapped in the back of the house” and died, Rooks said. Other people inside were able to escape.
A person inside called 911 at 4:08 a.m. when “they noticed the smoke and smoke alarms went off,” Rooks said. It is unclear what time fire rescue arrived.
“It was out in the country, it wasn’t right inside (Byron) city limits,” Rooks said.
A pick-up truck and the house were damaged. Surrounding property was not impacted, according to Rooks.
The Georgia Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident, Rooks said.
“They’re investigating and they haven’t come up with complete findings, but it’s going to be accidental,” Rooks told The Telegraph.
This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 10:46 AM.