ATLANTA — Investigators are working to determine what sparked a fire that killed a 3-month-old girl and her mother.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. at the home on Paines Avenue in northwest Atlanta.
“We did discover a female in back room of the home. That female was in critical condition and had severe burns and was transferred to the hospital,” said Atlanta Fire Sgt. Cortez Stafford. “On a secondary search we also discovered an infant in the home. That infant is deceased."
The mother was taken to the hospital in critical condition with severe burns but later died from her injuries.
Neighbors told Channel 2's Lori Wilson that the tragedy could have been avoided.
If you walk to the corner there are several boarded up homes in the area. People who live there say it is a problem that needs to change.
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A few weeks ago, neighbor Vincent Jones said he noticed the boards had been removed from the windows and the front door of the house.
"And I heard a couple of voices so I kept an eye on it, but I never saw anybody in it," Jones said.
While on scene, investigators questioned a man.
They said he witnessed the fire but they stopped short of explaining whether he had any connection to the woman or the baby.
Neighbors said they just saw the woman and the baby at the home Wednesday night.
"I wish that young lady would have sought shelter in a homeless shelter,” said neighbor Shon Story. “Again, we know people come into this neighborhood for drugs, so I wonder if that had anything to do with it."
Fire investigators believe the woman is the mother of the baby girl.
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