Man dies in house fire in Summerville

SUMMERVILLE, Georgia (WDEF) – A 35 year old man died in a house fire overnight in Summerville.

Charlie Gifford lived in an upstairs room at a home on 361 Fourth Street.

Fire Chief Robbie Lathem tells the Summerville News that he believes the fire started in an upstairs room where Charlie Gifford lived.

Two downstairs residents say they woke up to smoke in the house around 2 AM.

They got out, but Gifford never did.

He makes the ninth fire fatality this year in Chattooga County.

That includes the family of six that died in a trailer fire in Trion back in October.