Sweetwater, Tenn. – A house fire in the 700 block of Hawkins Road claimed the lives of two individuals Saturday night, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:58 p.m. after reports of a structure fire with people trapped inside. Deputies were informed en route that two individuals were unaccounted for and believed to be inside the residence.
Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones confirmed that multiple fire departments responded to the scene and worked throughout the night to battle the fully engulfed structure. Firefighters were unable to immediately rescue the individuals, and the situation quickly turned tragic as officials feared the two were inside the burning home.
After the fire was finally brought under control, authorities discovered the remains of two individuals within the charred remains of the residence. Their identities have not yet been released, as the remains were sent to the Regional Forensic Center for identification.
Sheriff Jones requested the assistance of special agents trained in fire investigation from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to help determine the cause of the fire.
“The loss of life in this incident is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time,” Sheriff Jones said. “I ask the community to keep the affected families in their prayers.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to uncover more details regarding the origin and circumstances of the fire. The names of the victims are expected to be released after positive identification is made by the forensic center.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has vowed to provide further updates as new information becomes available.
