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LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A Valdosta community is in mourning after a man and his 4-year-old grandson died in recent house fire.

On Oct. 15, Valdosta Fire Department (VFD) worked a blaze at a home on the 1300 block of West Park Avenue, that sent two people to the hospital and left multiple displaced.

According to McLane Funeral and Cremation Services, 61-year-old Gary Lee Yoder and his 4-year-old grandson Grayson Jack Spires died from their injuries days later.

A GoFundMe was created for the Yoder family as they mourn the deaths of their loved ones and work to recover everything they lost in fire.

In light of the tragic incident, VFD is launching a community safety initiative designed to help locals establish an emergency plan for unexpected fires by providing free home safety assessments.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who are grieving right now, and our primary goal is to stand beside our community and prevent further tragedy,” said Fire Chief Marcus Haynes. “We want to make it as simple as we can for every family to have peace of mind. Please let us come out, check your home, talk about home escape plans, and install these life-saving alarms for you. There is absolutely no cost, and we are happy to do it.”

Anyone in need can request an assessment by calling (229) 333-1835 or emailing [email protected].

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