Girl, 11, dies trying to save her dog from a house fire

An 11-year-old girl died and a firefighter was injured Saturday evening when a fire engulfed a home in Spalding County, Georgia, officials said.

Crews were called just before 5:30 p.m. to the residence in the 110 block of Sidney Drive near Griffin, Georgia, according to Spalding County fire Chief Mike Byrd. Firefighters could see the blaze from more than a mile away, the chief said. When they arrived, they encountered heavy flames and smoke coming from both the first and second floors of the residence.

After learning someone was trapped inside, crews quickly went upstairs and found the girl’s body in a bedroom.

“She had already succumbed to the conditions and they were unable to revive her on scene,” Byrd said.

The girl, identified as Katelynn Simonds by her family, went back inside to save her dog and became trapped, according to Channel 2 Action News. The Cowan Road Middle School student lived at the home with her mother, stepfather and brother. The dog reportedly did not survive.

“Her stepdad and her stepuncle tried to go in after her, and to no success. They couldn’t get in,” her step-aunt, Tressia Perry, told the news station.

The chief confirmed other family members were at the home at the time of the fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to assist due to the “nature and severity of the incident,” according to a news release by the fire department Monday.

Investigators determined the blaze originated downstairs and was accidental, the release stated.

“After a subsequent investigation of the area where the victim was located, investigators were able to rule out any suspicion of foul play,” officials said.

According to Byrd, a firefighter sprained their ankle during the operation but they are expected to be OK.

The home is located just north of Ga. 92 near Heads Creek Reservoir.

In February, 23-year-old Madison Summerville died at the hospital after saving her three children from a fire at their home along Old Atlanta Road in Spalding County, about five miles east of Saturday’s blaze. The children were flown to Grady Memorial Hospital and were expected to be OK.