One person found dead after early morning house fire in Eastman

Firefighters say they were initially unable to enter the home due to unsafe conditions.

EASTMAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — One person was found dead after a house fire early Wednesday morning in Eastman.

According to the Eastman Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched around 4:45 a.m. to a reported structure fire at a home in the 5400 block of Dodge Avenue. When crews got there, the home was fully involved, with fire breaking through the roof and burning through parts of the floor.

Neighbors told firefighters the resident might still be inside the home. The fire department says because of the extent of the fire and unsafe conditions of the structure, crews were initially unable to enter.

Additional manpower was requested from Wilcox State Prison, and once the fire was brought under control, firefighters searched the home and found one person dead inside.

The Dodge County Coroner and the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office responded, and the body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy and positive identification.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No information about the victim’s identity has been released.