Fatal house fire in Kilgore

By BILL WOODALL

A Wednesday morning fire at 2005 Crestview Lane claimed two victims.

Teresa White, age approximately 60, was removed from the building and taken by ambulance to Christus Good Shepherd’s emergency room in Kilgore. She later died from her injuries, though the cause of death has not been finally determined.

A second victim died at the scene but has not been positively identified.

Autopsies have been completed, but results of autopsies have not been released.

Mark Moore, Gregg County fire marshal said Friday morning the investigation into the fire is not complete but that “the preliminary indication is that the fire was accidental in nature.” Moore is leading the investigation because Kilgore is without a full-time fire marshal.

A neighbor saw the smoke and called 9-1-1, Moore said. At about the same time, Kilgore police department responded to a burglar alarm at the address. That citizen and a Kilgore police officer attempted to enter the house but were unable to get in “because of the progression of the fire,” Moore said. Firefighters arrived minutes later and, equipped with protective gear, were able to remove Ms. White from the house.