Neighbors remember elderly woman killed by early-morning Marietta house fire

MARIETTA, Ga. - Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 1700 block of Merry Oak Road SW near Hurt Road SW in Marietta early Wednesday morning.

According to Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, four people were transported to a hospital from the scene.

When firefighters arrived around 5 a.m., they found two people in the front yard and there was heavy smoke and fire pouring out of the front door and windows.

The crew began searching for other possible victims and found three people inside whom they were able to pull out.

Four people – one child and three adults - were transported to an area hospital. 

 Fire officials later told FOX 5 Atlanta that one "elderly female" died as a result of the fire. No other information has been released. 

Cole Long fought back tears as he visited the scene of Wednesday's deadly fire. 

"Just pray that they pull through," Long told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes.

Long said family friend Nancy Martin died from injuries.

"They both jumped out that window saving themselves and she broke her back," Long said, pointing to the window one of the victims jumped out of with her child to escape the flames.

Residents reported hearing several explosions before discovering their neighbors' house was ablaze.

"When I came out the front of the house, the front porch was completely in big flames," explained neighbor Sandra Cebada. Neighbors were honking their horns because they didn't know if the neighbors were still inside."

Firefighters rescued three people who were trapped inside the home when crews arrived. 

"They did a great job," Cobb Fire Chief Bill Johnson explained, "got in and if these people have any chance of survival, it's because of the work of the men and women of the Cobb County Fire Department."

One of the victims was flown to Augusta Medical for treatment.

Neighbors said Martin lived at the residence with other family members, their thoughts now with the survivors. 

"I understand one lady has passed, but we hope, because they had four or five children in there too, so we hope that they are not injured too badly," said resident Jim Adkins.

Early in the investigation fire officials can't say how the fire started. 

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