By Ron Clayton
The Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
ATHENS, Tenn. — A house fire early Sunday morning claimed the lives of two people, but names of the deceased have not been released pending identification, according to city police.
A report by Sgt. Jason Garren said patrol officers found the house at 9 Webb St. on fire about 2 a.m. and notified the Athens Fire Department.
The location is less than a mile from Fire Station No. 1, but Chief Bob Miller said the home was engulfed inside when units arrived.
Athens Police Detective Heith Willis said once the fire was extinguished, firefighters found the bodies of a man and woman inside the home, one on a bed and the other near a bedroom door.
“It was such a small home, smoke and fire likely spread fast,” Detective Willis said.
No information was available whether there were working smoke detectors in the home.
Family members gathered at the scene early Sunday morning along with members of the state bomb and arson unit and an assistant from the local district attorney’s office.
Detective Willis said the two residents were a “younger couple, and they had been seen just the day before.”
He said there is no indication of foul play, but an investigation report along with positive identification of the victims should be available today.
Copyright 2008 Chattanooga Publishing Company