Two people have been discovered dead after DeKalb County firefighters responded to a house fire last Wednesday in the Riverwatch community. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

According to the State Medical Examiner, the bodies of 33-year-old Kristin Kerrigan of Nashville, and 34-year-old William Waynick of Franklin, were discovered in the aftermath of a house fire at 110 Mountain Harbour Drive Sparta.  

On September 13, E-911 dispatch received a call at 2:36 a.m. reporting a structure fire. Members of the Johnson’s Chapel Station, Midway Station, Four Seasons Station, Short Mountain Highway Station, and the two tanker trucks of the DeKalb County Fire Department responded to the scene, along with DeKalb EMS, and Sheriff’s Department. The TBI’s Fire Investigation Division also responded for an investigation.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the structure fully involved in flames. Fire crews worked to contain the blaze, keeping it from spreading, but the log home was a total loss.

“911 got a call from a neighbor that had discovered that the house was fully involved and when firefighters got there, we found the second floor of the house had already collapsed,” Sheriff Patrick Ray explained.

“One vehicle there was already on fire and fully involved, and another automobile had caught fire. We were able to put out the fire in the second car and we saved a detached garage that was next door,” said Ray.

Afterwards, investigators found the remains among the ruins of a two-story log home. According to Sheriff Ray, the condition of the bodies left investigators unable to identify them at the time, and they had to be sent to the medical examiner’s office in Nashville for identification.

“After the fire we found the first body, we later had to get some equipment to remove more rubbish and that’s when we found the other body,” said Sheriff Ray.

Sheriff Ray said no foul play is suspected at this time.