Athens man dies after being pulled from burning house

By Joe Johnson

A 62-year-old man died last week after being pulled from his burning house on Winterville Road.

John Francis Willcuts was pronounced dead in the ambulance to which he was taken at the scene of the blaze.

The fire at 2645 Winterville Road was reported at 12:23 p.m. on April 8 by a passerby who saw flames coming out of the house and called 911.

Robert Fleming told police that he was on his way to work at the time. He said he flagged down several other people to go with him to the house, but the fire was too intense for them to help.

A neighbor next door had been unaware of anything happening until she was evacuated, police said, adding that the woman gave an investigator access to her surveillance cameras.

John Willcutts in 2022 Facebook photo

“At this time there are no signs of foul play,” police indicated in an incident report.

Authorities are awaiting an autopsy report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.

The fire is being investigated by the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services Department.