Firefighters entered the burning home to search for those trapped inside, while investigators are still working to establish what caused the blaze.
A woman and a boy died in an Atlanta house fire on Wednesday night after flames spread through the property while occupants were attempting to put them out, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue.
A man and another boy escaped. Local broadcaster WSB-TV reported that the two survivors suffered minor injuries and smoke inhalation.
Emergency crews were called at around 8.45pm on 7 October to a home on Waters Road SW, near Springside Drive in the Glenrose Heights neighbourhood, following reports that people were trapped inside.
Chief Andrew Anderson, the department’s public information officer, said the first unit arrived in less than five minutes and encountered heavy flames on multiple sides of the house.
Firefighters went inside and searched the property. They found the woman and boy in a bathroom near the rear left-hand corner of the home. Neither survived.
The man who escaped told officials that he and the woman had initially tried to extinguish the fire themselves. He went outside to collect water, but the flames spread so quickly that he could no longer get back into the building, Anderson said.
The survivor believed a neighbour had called 911 before he made his own call. Anderson said he could not establish how long the occupants had spent trying to tackle the fire before emergency services were contacted.
Describing the rescue operation, Anderson said firefighters had risked their lives to reach anyone who might still be saved.
“All of our units on scene risked their lives this evening to do the best job that they can to rescue anybody that was possible to be rescued,” he said.
Investigators have not confirmed the cause of the blaze. Although the surviving man suggested it began near a sofa, Anderson stressed that this was the man’s account and remained separate from the findings of the official investigation.
Authorities had not released the victims’ names or exact ages in the reports available on Thursday morning.
Anderson urged residents to call 911 immediately when a fire breaks out.
“This is a very sad tragedy,” he said. “We really tried our best.”
