Neighbor describes fatal Forsyth County fire

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities are investigating a deadly fire at a Forsyth County home early Friday morning.

Officials say the blaze broke out at a home on the 9000 block of Fairlane Trail off Bethel Road shortly before 5 a.m.

What we know:

Crews got to the scene to find flames covering the single-story home. After firefighters got the flames under control, they found the body of one person in the rubble. Three homes nearby were also damaged from the heat from the fire.

"There was no one else here from the home that greeted us. There was no one else to give us information other than the neighbors in the area to tell us what they saw. But again it was very early on in the morning," Forsyth County Fire Department Division Chief Jason Shivers said. 

"The fire had grown to be very sizable before anybody else noticed it. It was before most people in the neighborhood were up and moving for the day, so it had an opportunity to fully engulf the house," Shivers explained. 

What they're saying:

We also spoke to a neighbor who lives next door and heard popping sounds that woke her up.

"It shook the house so that's why I assumed it was a tree that fell," Sara Smith said. 

"It was chaotic. I mean house is in flames neighbors started coming out because everybody heard it woke them up. It was very scary."

"It's unfortunate what happened, but I'm glad it was loud enough to wake me up because it could have gone completely a different way, and it would be a whole different scenario right now, so I'm glad I'm OK, my home and my sons are OK, but it could have gone definitely different," Smith concluded.

What we don't know:

 Investigators are working to identify the individual's body and determine the cause of death.

The cause of the fire is also under investigation. If you have any information that could help with the investigation, call the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.