Three die in house fire

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Three people died after a fire swept through their Montevallo home early on the morning of Monday, Dec. 30.

According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports, officers were notified of the residential fire in the 100 block of Shelby County Road 216, located on the outskirts of the Montevallo city limits.

Dry Valley, Montevallo and Calera fire departments responded as well as Montevallo police officers and Shelby County sheriff’s deputies.

Upon arrival, the mobile home was &uot;fully involved,&uot; law enforcement officials said, and only one of the residents was found to have escaped. Attempts to rescue the other two occupants failed.

Shelby County Coroner Doug Ballard pronounced 64-year-old Gartha M. Burnett and her 30-year-old grandson, Allen W. Burnett Jr., dead at the scene.

Marvin G. Burnett was transported by ambulance to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center for treatment of burns he sustained during the fire.

Capt. Mike DeHart said the sheriff’s office was notified that Burnett died Jan. 4 as a result of the injuries he sustained during the fire.

According to the sheriff’s department, the cause of the blaze has not been established although indications seem to rule out foul play.

However, investigators from the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department continue to evaluate evidence at the scene to determine the cause.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will also conduct medical evaluations of the victims.

&uot;Our thoughts and prayers go out&uot; to the Burnett family &uot;as they struggle to make sense of this tragic event,&uot; said Chief Deputy Chris Curry. &uot;What the Burnett family is experiencing should remind us all to give thanks for our many blessings this past year and throughout the coming year, as well as prompt us to reach out to those who are hurting and in need.&uot;