Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Patricia Ann Reeves, 69, passed away in an Appling County fire. The fire occurred at 920 Blackshear Highway in the early morning hours of Monday, December 21.

“A motorist driving through Baxley contacted the Baxley Fire Department and Baxley Police Department at 2:19 a.m. about an ongoing house fire,” said Commissioner King. “Local officials found Ms. Reeves’ body while they were putting out the fire.”

Commissioner King’s State Fire Investigations Unit assisted the Appling County Coroner’s Office with safely removing the body of the deceased. State officials will continue investigating this fire alongside Baxley investigators. All authorities involved ask for prayers for the family of Ms. Reeves. Ms. Reeves is the 95th person to die in a fatal Georgia fire in 2020.