ROCKMART, Ga. — A massive fire swept through a home in Paulding County early Wednesday morning, killing a man.
Neighbors called 911 around 6 a.m. to report flames and smoke on Compound Road near Rockmart.
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“My daughter in law got up to get ready for work and smelled smoke in the back, came out front and saw flames. She ran down the driveway calling 911 when she realized it was the house burning across the street,” said witness Dawn Anderson.
Anderson said she also heard small blasts coming from the burning house.
“There were lots of explosions and many things going off the house,” said Anderson.
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Paulding County firefighters arrived on the scene in less than 10 minutes.
Firefighters faced a challenging and dangerous environment because of the extreme fire conditions at the home as they worked to bring the fire under control.
They began a search of the structure and found a man dead in the home.
“This is a tragic incident, and our hearts are with the family and everyone affected,” said Paulding Country Fire Chief Garrett Brubaker.
Anderson says while she didn’t know how her neighbor who died in the fire, she feels sympathy for his family and friends.
“It was horrible, horrible. We are sick to hear that somebody has passed away,” said Anderson.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the fire victim has not been identified.
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