1 dead, multiple hospitalized in DeKalb County house fire, officials say

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County house fire is under investigation after multiple people were taken to the hospital.

According to the City of Chamblee, DeKalb County Fire and Rescue crews were called to a house fire on London Road around 10 p.m. Sunday.

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The home was known for taking care of people with disabilities.

DCFR said the home was fully engulfed in heavy smoke and flames when they arrived.

Chamblee said seven people were inside the home when the fire started, and DCFR said several people were outside after self-evacuating before firefighters arrived.

According to firefighters, two people were rescued from the home, and one of those victims went into cardiac arrest.

Chamblee said four people were taken to the hospital. Three were disabled individuals, and the fourth person was their adoptive father.

Authorities confirmed one of the disabled individuals has died as a result of their injuries. Their identity has not been released.

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Channel 2′s Matt Johnson talked to neighbor Jack Adamson, who said he believes the man who died was the couple’s adult son, who was paralyzed.

Neighbors and friends came by to see the damaged home.

“The family’s going to have a hard time,” friend Randall Ruesche said. “They’re going to need help.”

Ruesche talked to one of the family’s other sons, who said the mother was out of town, but the father rand their other children were home when the fire broke out.

“It’s sad,” Ruesche said. “They just try to take care of people.”

Neighbors said the couple fostered or adopted a number of children over the years, many with disabilities, and the family is beloved in the neighborhood for giving back.

“Very sweet people that are doing a very nice service for the community,” Adamson said. “I just hope the community steps up to help them out. They could use it.”

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

So far, there has been no update on the conditions of the other four victims who were taken to the hospital.

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