Three Children Killed In Georgia Fire

A fourth child and three adults escaped from the burning home.

Jan. 16, 2009

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. --

Three children were killed in a house fire in DeKalb County early Friday morning.

A fourth child and three adults escaped from the burning home at 358 Barbashela Drive in the Mountain Valley Estates subdivision in Stone Mountain.

Tameria Stokes, 12, jumped from a window and is being treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospitial, according to Captain Eric Jackson of the DeKalb County fire department.

Tameria Stokes, 12

Firefighters recovered the bodies of the other three children from the home.

They were identified as Topeka Smith, 13, Shantia Stokes, 10 and Tranetria Stokes, 6. Tranetria would have turned seven-years-old on Sunday, according to family members.

"This is a terribly sad day," said Jackson.

The children's grandparents, Charles and Mary Barden, and and uncle, Carzell Barden, escaped from the fire.

Topeka Smith, 13 Shantia Stokes, 10 Tranetria Stokes, 6

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