State Fire Investigators Determine Point of Origin in Sunday House Fire
Cristen Drummond
Story Created:
Feb 26, 2013 at 8:38 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Feb 26, 2013 at 8:43 PM EDT
Two state fire investigators visited the Macon house that caught on fire Sunday to determine what caused the blaze.
The investigators looked around and found the point of origin in the home.
"They have determined that it did start in one of the bedrooms and that it's undetermined exactly on what caused this fire," spokesperson for the State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioners Office, Glenn Allen said.
The Macon Police Department asked state investigators to come check out the scene. While Allen’s office doesn't know what started the blaze, investigators suggest it wasn't intentional.
"Nothing is suspicious at this time and we concur with the Macon-Bibb Fire Department that this fire appears accidental," Allen said.
The fire started around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday in a small back bedroom. The four children J’Lon, 3, Daija, 7, Jamarrian, 9, and 10-year-old Nykhiya Williams were sleeping in the master bedroom next to it. Their mother, Colethia Williams wasn't home. Neighbors said she went to the store to buy sinus medicine. Despite the children being under the age of 10, Sheriff David Davis said there's no law in Georgia that states how young a child can be left at home.
"We've done some research over the years,” Davis said. “A parent, if they feel that the children will be safe and an emergency arises or they feel they need to run out and do something, than they're OK under the law."
However, in a tragedy, investigators will look further into the situation.
"Main thing you have to determine is if there's any intent to do harm and if there's no intent to do harm than there's no law that's going to go in there and govern that as far as an age of a child being left by themselves," Davis said.
Back at the house, after the investigators finished their search, contractors came and boarded up the home to deter anyone from breaking in. As they hammered, the memorial in the front yard continued to grow as people placed flowers, balloons and stuffed animals by the trees.
As of last check, the condition of J'Lon Williams is still critical condition at the Augusta Burn Center. Bibb County Coroner, Leon Jones said the autopsy results for the three children that died won't be released pending a toxicology report. The Macon Police Department does not have any new information in regards to the investigation at this time.
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