Derris Woods Obituary, Death – Two people were tragically killed in a house fire in DeKalb County early Monday morning. According to Capt. Jaeson Daniels of DeKalb County Fire Rescue, firefighters responded to the scene on the 2900 block of Cohassett Lane in Panthersville around 1:30 a.m. after receiving a call from a neighbor about the fire.
The fire had grown significantly by the time crews arrived, with flames so intense that part of the house collapsed during their efforts to control the blaze. This collapse made it difficult for firefighters to search the home for any occupants. The fire was eventually brought under control by daybreak, and it was then that the bodies of two individuals, a man and a woman, were discovered inside the home.
The man was later identified by family members as Derris Woods, who was in his 30s. His aunt, Joan McDill, shared that Woods had only lived in the house for about a year. The family was already grieving the recent loss of Woods’ brother, who died from an illness, and McDill expressed the shock and disbelief they are experiencing with the loss of another family member so soon. “I just kept saying, like, ‘It’s not true… it’s like a nightmare… it can’t be him. Maybe it’s somebody else,’” McDill said, recalling her reaction as she rushed to the scene.
The identity of the woman who also died in the fire has not yet been released. Investigators are still working to determine how and where the fire started. As the investigation continues, officials have not yet provided further details about the cause of the blaze or any contributing factors.
The tragedy has left the family and community in shock, as they await answers regarding the circumstances of the fire.