Family says they are devastated after man killed in house fire

ATLANTA — Investigators are working to determine what caused a house fire that killed a man early Friday morning.

The victim’s uncle Shaheed Muhammed identified the man as 58-year-old Eddie Dean Pitts.

Muhammed told Channel 2's Audrey Washington he didn't know about the fire until he received a phone call.

“My sister from out of town called me and told me she saw it on the news that the house burned. So I just drove over and found out by talking to you," Muhammed said.

The flames broke out sometime around 2:30 a.m. at the home on Pegg Road in southwest Atlanta.

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Kenneth and Joi Martin were the first to spot the smoke from the highway and called 911.

“By the time we pulled up the whole entire house was engulfed… the whole entire house,” Martin said.

Muhammed told Washington that the house had belonged to his sister, who died four years ago and left the house to her son Pitts. He says the whole family is devastated.

“He had one son who lives in Stockbridge, but he’s a good guy, lovable guy,” Muhammed said. “He’s going to be missed.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Cox Media Group