July 18--Two people died in a house fire near West Point on Thursday night.
The fire at 2090 Dr. Sears Road killed Alvin Tallie Sr., 54, and his wife Fatenia Tallie, 54, said Clay County Coroner Alvin Carter Jr. Another adult and a child also were in the house and escaped, Carter said.
The child was unharmed, and the adult was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo for treatment of smoke inhalation and cuts.
The fire began at about 11:10 Thursday night at the location three miles north of West Point. Volunteer fire units spent about an hour to get the fire under control, and it completely destroyed the house.
Its cause is still being investigated, and a representative from the state fire marshal's office was on the scene on Friday morning.
It appeared the Tallies were trapped in the back of the home, and that they "succumbed to smoke inhalation" as they tried to exit through the back bathroom window, Carter said.
Their bodies are being sent to Jackson for an autopsy, but foul play is not suspected.
Copyright 2014 - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
