Elderly Man Found Dead In Fire in Cartersville

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- Authorities have released the identity of the 82-year-old man who was found dead Tuesday afternoon while crews battling a grass fire near Cartersville.

Bartow County firefighters discovered the body of Jimmy Deering in the midst of their battle against a "slow moving grass fire," Chief Craig Millsap said.

First responders were dispatched to a home in the 500 block of Cedar Creek Road around 2:13 p.m. Jan. 31.

The fire, he said, was initially reported as a "grass woods fire" that was threatening structures nearby.

Crews arrived on the scene and got to work in conquering the blaze. Bystanders began to gather and one witness alerted authorities to the grim discovery.

“We don’t know if the burns were part of the death or if it may have been something medical," Millsap added, noting the investigation remains active.

Bartow County Coroner Joel Guyton said it does not appear Deering was dead before the fire grew out of control, however.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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