Cherokee County Firefighter David Gray in ICU After Fatal House Fire

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - A Cherokee County firefighter is struggling to survive after he was injured while fighting a fire Sunday.

The blistering house fire claimed the lives of two Woodstock residents and sent three firefighters to the hospital.

It happened in the 800 block of Commons Court in the Kingston Square Subdivision off Highway 92 just east of Woodstock early Sunday. Fire crews arrived just after 1:30 a.m. to find the house engulfed in flames.

Officials said three firefighters had to be pulled from the buing structure after part of the porch supports collapsed.

Firefighter David Gray was listed in intensive care Monday after suffering lung injuries when bricks fell on top of him. He also suffered from smoke inhalation while fighting the fire.

Two other Cherokee County firefighters, 32-year-old Matthew Richter and David Buaugh, were treated and released.

The firefighters were trying to save an elderly couple trapped in the buing house. They were injured when the structure they were standing on collapsed, sending the men falling fifteen feet into the basement.

”The whole front two-story wall collapsed, said Buaugh.

Investigators said they later found a 78-year old James Mallon and his 77-year old wife, Carol, dead inside the house. Officials said James died after going back inside to try to save his wife.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.