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NEED TO KNOW
- A Georgia man who worked as a teacher and coach has died after his house went up in flames on Nov. 9
- The victim has been identified by Walker County as John Millican III
- John’s wife, Heather, and their two kids escaped the fire but sustained “serious injuries”
A Georgia teacher and coach has died after a house fire that left his wife, who is also a teacher, and two children seriously injured.
Walker County Fire Marshal Scott Forrest said dispatchers received a call at 7:38 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 9, “concerning smoke inside a home at 127 Ridgewood Circle” near Chickamauga, according to a news release shared by Walker County.
Firefighters “found heavy smoke and fire coming from the front of the home” upon arrival, officials said. Meanwhile, John Millican III was trapped inside.
After entering the home, firefighters found John “unconscious in a back bedroom.” He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
John’s wife, Heather Millican, and their two children, ages 3 and 8, were able to escape the blaze and were outside the home when firefighters arrived, officials added.
Heather, who is a social studies teacher at LaFayette Middle School, and the two children were transported to Vanderbilt Burn Center in Nashville with “serious injuries.”
John worked as a special education teacher and football coach at LaFayette High School, according to a Facebook post shared by Dade County Cross Country/Track and Field. He was “going to work with the Rambler track and field program” as well, they added.
Previously, John worked as a history teacher and track coach in Dade County, where he was “passionate about growing” the track and field program.
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“We are grateful for his efforts,” the team said before asking the public to “please pray for his family” and those impacted by his death at Lafayette High School and in Walker County.
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The Millicans’ house “is considered a total loss,” according to officials. An investigation into the house fire is ongoing, they added.
An autopsy will be performed to determine what caused John’s death.
