HOUSE FIRE FATALITY IN CITY OF THOMASTON EARLY WED.

ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF RENEE HARRIS, THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A FIRE THAT RESULTED IN A FATALITY IN THE CITY OF THOMASTON AT 202 AVE L, EARLY WEDNESDAY. 

THE DECEASED, JOSEPH LAWSON, IN HIS 40'S WAS EMPLOYED AT QUAD GRAPHICS. 

THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT 1;20AM BUT THE STRUCTURE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED.

THE FIRE CHIEF SAID LAWSON AND HIS WIFE AWOKE TO THE SMELL OF SMOKE AND BOTH EXITED THE HOUSE, THEN MR. LAWSON WENT BACK INSIDE TO GET THE CAR KEYS TO MOVE HIS VEHICLE AND HE APPARENTLY WAS TRAPPED. HIS BODY WAS LOCATED IN A BEDROOM AT THE FRONT OF THE RENTAL HOUSE. 

THE GMC SUV WAS ALSO A TOTAL LOSS. A NEIGHBORING HOUSE HAD SIDING DAMAGE DUE TO THE FIRE. THOMASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON THE SCENE UNTIL 11AM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THE BODY WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE GBI CRIME LAB FOR AUTOPSY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

Photos By Mickey Thrasher