Faulty Unit Blamed in Fatal Fire

Published Jan. 5, 2010 at 9:10 p.m.
(WSB Radio)  --  An old window heating and air conditioning unit is the cause of a fatal mobile home fire which took the lives of two children Tuesday.

"I feel certain the unity was beyond ten years old," said Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.  "The unit was definitely dangerous."

Firefighters were called to the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park, off ofPatterson Road, near Griffin, concerning a fire at a single widetrailer.

Upon arrival, fire crews discovered the structure heavily involved, with thick smoke.

Two year old Claudia Johnson and her 4 year old sister, Aislyn, werefound dead in the home.  Their mother, 21 year old Ashley Johnson, wasrescued, suffering from second degree burns.

Investigators say the fire broke out as the family was sleeping. The father had just left for work when the fire started.  The girlswoke their mother up, but they were unable to get out of the home.

A neighbor trying to help the family was also injured by broken glass from a window.

Thecause of the fire is under investigation.  Fire officials are trying todetermine if the cold weather might have contributed to the cause.

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