Investigators still investigating fire that killed mother, 2 daughters
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Demolition could begin as early as Friday at the Gwinnett County home that caught fire, killing a mother and her two daughters.
A large team of investigators worked side by side Thursday with structural engineers and construction experts as they work to determine exactly what happened the night the Pointer Ridge house went up in flames.
Their father, Brent Patterson, was also home during the fire, but escaped. He told detectives he made several attempts to re-enter the home to save his family, but was forced back due to intense heat and flames.
Thursday, Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge said the large scope of the investigation does not suggest officials are leaning toward foul play.
"This family deserves closure and we are simply doing everything we can and using all the resources we can to determine how the fire started, why it spread so quickly, and what happened in the moments afterwards," said Captain Rutledge.
The veteran firefighter said it is not uncommon for investigators to return to the scene of a fatal fire with additional resources and outside agencies.
"We're putting every effort we can into this. That's why you see crime scene investigators from the D.A.'s office and the Police Department. This is not unusual for a situation where a mother and her daughters lost their lives."
Gwinnett fire officials still believe the fire started downstairs perhaps near an electric reclining chair. Investigators still can't explain the magnitude of destruction and the fast pace of the flames.
"We have not labeled this anything other than an open fatal fire investigation," Rutledge said.
Dan Mayfield, the Chief Investigators for Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter, declined to comment about the presence of his investigators on the scene of the deadly fire, citing the ongoing investigation.