Elderly woman lost to fatal house fire

COLQUITT CO., GA (WALB) - Colquitt County officials are investigating the cause of a house fire that killed a woman on Saturday.

The fire happened on the 3700 block of Old Albany Road.

The coroner confirmed 83-year-old Minnie Height passed away in her farm house. She was homebound for medical reasons and had a caregiver.

Mario Allen is still in shock after the house fire took his grandmother's life. He said he rushed to his grandmother's home once he got the news.

"When I top that hill and I saw the fire trucks the ambulance. I kept saying to myself she made it out, she made it out," said Allen.

Allen said his grandmother was the type of person who got along with everyone. That's why today family members are not the only ones grieving.

Jackie Flowers, a family friend, said the last time she saw Height, she was sitting on her front porch.

"It just makes me think now I should have stopped," said Flowers.

The family isn't yet sure how the fire started. In the meantime, they'll finish picking up the pieces.

Officials said the caregiver came by the home earlier and then left to see another patient. By the time of the caregiver's return, the house was engulfed in flames.

Height's body will be sent to Macon for an autopsy. Once the autopsy is complete they will plan funeral arrangements. The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

The material of the farm house also proved a factor in the large size of the blaze.

Copyright 2015 WALB. All rights reserved.