Cause of fatal Athens house fire remains unknown

The charred ruins of the house where John Willcutts perished last week

By Joe Johnson

County fire officials have determined where the fire began in John Willcutts’ house last week but they continue trying to determine how the blaze that killed him got started.

An intense and rapidly spreading fire broke out at the Winterville Road residence in mid-afternoon on April 8, and Willcutts died in an ambulance after firefighters pulled him from the inferno.

John Willcutts

The Athens-Clarke County Fire Marshal's Office has been investigating to find out what happened.

“Based on the scene examination and information available, it appears that the fire originated in a room at the rear of the house that contained the dining room and laundry area,” Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Kearney said.

“The fire is currently classified as undetermined; however we’ll be waiting for the official autopsy report from the GBI,” he said. “The victim was sent via ACC Coroner to the Medical Examiner's Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office encourages anyone with relevant information to come forward and contact Kearney at 706-613-3365.