Tuesday March 19th, 2024 3:45AM

Mother, daughter perish in Stephens County fire

UPDATED: Improper use of a space heater is being blamed for a fire that claimed the lives of two women at a home in Toccoa Friday night.

Gwen Bohannon, 68, and Amy Bohannon, 39, were found beside each other in a bedroom at the home at 50 Linda Drive off Roselane in Toccoa, said Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.

State officials report a space heater located too close to a sofa and attached to an extension cord caused the fire, which was reported at 6:34 p.m.

Four children in the home, ages 7-19, were able to escape, said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

Officials identified the victims as mother and daughter.

Shirley said when the 9-1-1 call was received his deputies were located nearby and responded quickly.

"Upon their arrival, the mobile home was totally engulfed by fire," Shirley said. "Attempts were made to try and get to the victims, but because of the home being totally involved all attempts were diminished by the intense fire."

Shirley provided some of the details his officers received about the incident.

"According to the son, the preliminary indications of the origin of the fire may be linked to a radiator-type heater," Shirley said. "The son stated that he opened his bedroom door and was overwhelmed by smoke. He opened the front door and located the two little girls who had been playing outside."

Allen said Amy Bohannon's son Scott attempted to extinguish the fire, while Gwendolyn Bohannon went to try to help her immobile daughter escape. Unfortunately, both women perished in the fire.

Firefighters from Toccoa Fire Department and Carnes Creek Fire Department battled and extinguished the blaze. Stephens County Emergency Medical Services and the Stephens County Coroner's Office also responded.

The state fire marshal's office, which operates through Hudgens' office, was called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

"My investigators determined that the fire originated in the living room of the mobile home," Hudgens in a statement. "The fire was the result of an electric space heater being placed too close to a sofa."

Allen said both victims were found in a back bedroom of the home.

"The investigation revealed that Gwendolyn died while attempting to rescue Amy, who was immobile following a recent back surgery," Allen said.

Allen said there were two problems with how the space heater was being used that resulted in the fire.

"The space heater itself was too close to a sofa and that's where the origin of the fire took place in the living room area of the fire," Allen said. "There was an extension cord that was used with the space heater as well, which that's something that you're not supposed to do."

The doublewide mobile home was destroyed.

"My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the entire family," Shirley said.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: fire, Stephens County, Toccoa, fatal fire, Sheriff Randy Shirley, State Fire Marshal's Office, Carnes Creek Fire Department, Toccoa Fire Department, Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, spokesman Glenn Allen
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