COLUMBUS – Authorities are trying to determine what caused a fire that claimed the life of a 63-year old woman and her 13-year old grandson. The fire broke out about 6 a.m. on July 7, firefighters from Lowndes County District 3 responded to the residence at 1315 Nashville Ferry Road.
When they arrived, authorities said the house was fully involved.
“Not only was it fully involved,” said Fire Chief Bill McCord, “but half of it was already totally consumed.”
McCord said the boy, Christopher Hargrove, and his grandmother, Mary Hargrove, were both found in a rear bedroom. Christopher was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Both of the fatalities were overcome by smoke,” McCord said. “And it seems like they really didn’t make an effort to get out.”
McCord said Mary Hargrove was unconscious at the scene and transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus.
“She had some sign of life when she left, but they could not get a pulse on her,” McCord said. “The paramedics worked with her for quite a while before they transported her, but they never got a response from her.”
McCord said about 10 firefighters responded to the call with three pumpers and two tankers, and they were on the scene for about two hours.
McCord said the fire was contained to the front end of the mobile home and they believe it started in the kitchen.
“It’s still under investigation and we look for it to go on a few more weeks,” he said. “But it’s our speculation that it started in the kitchen from some type of kitchen appliance.”
McCord said firefighters were able to contain the fire before it damaged a nearby structure.
“We got there in time to prevent it from spreading anywhere,” he said. “But if left alone, it’s possible that one other structure might have been threatened.”
Mary’s daughter, and Christopher’s mother also lived at the residence, but Deputy State Fire Marshal Albert Carver said she was outside sitting in a vehicle when the fire started.
“She was talking to a boyfriend in the vehicle,” “Carver said. “And she was not injured.”
The fire is being investigated by several agencies including the state fire marshal.
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