A metal lamp is being blamed for an accidental fire that swept through a Spalding County home that killed an elderly brother and sister early Tuesday.
Marie White, 70, and her brother, Herman Reid, 68, were killed and a police officer was injured when the blaze roared through the home in the 700 block of East Central Avenue shortly after 3:30 a.m.
Griffin fire Chief Tommy Jones said the elderly man made it to the front door but apparently collapsed from smoke inhalation before making it out of the residence. Jones said the woman was found inside the house in her bed.
Authorities said a metal shop lamp that one of the residents was using as a reading lamp caught fire after it overheated when the victim fell asleep.
An unidentified officer suffered minor burns on his hands while trying to pull one of the victims from the fire.
Relatives said the man had recently suffered a stroke and his sister was about to undergo hip replacement surgery.
"They couldn't move that fast," said Anthony Reid, the woman's grandson. "She was trapped."
The blaze stunned residents.
"I'm pretty shocked," neighbor Willie Holland said.
Relatives said neither of the victims had insurance.
Channel 2 Action News reporter Tiffani Reynolds contributed to this report.
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