Chief: GBI, Fire Marshal Asked to Investigate Macon Blaze that Killed Three Children

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Fire Department has requested the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the Georgia State Fire Marshal to determine what sparked that blaze that killed three children in a Macon home.

Macon-Bibb Fire investigators returned to the home on James Street Monday morning to collect evidence. The fire started in a bedroom early Sunday morning and spread. Macon-Bibb Fire Chief Marvin Riggins said investigators are not sure where the children’s mother, Colethia Williams, was when the flames started. She arrived on the scene after the first fire engine. Riggins said the blaze does not intentional have been set intentionally.

Outside of the home, a memorial for the three children continues to grow. Residents in the community have dropped off bears, balloons and flowers all in memory of 10-year-old Nykhia Williams, 7-year-old Daijia Williams and 9-year-old Jamarrian Williams.

Three-year-old J’lon Williams is at Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta. He remains in critical condition.

According to Riggins, none of the children had direct contact with the flames, but the temperature in the home exceeded as much as 800 degrees. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“We did find one smoke detector, it was on the floor and it was not audible at the time,” Riggins said, “not to say that it didn’t work, it could have.”

The childrens’ autopsies are expected to be back Tuesday.

The community has planned a candle light vigil for the children. The vigil will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m.