Investigators are working to determine what caused the vehicle fire that killed two children inside a parked car.
WAYCROSS, Ga. — Two young children died after a vehicle caught fire in southeast Georgia, authorities said, as investigators continued working Friday to determine how the blaze began and why the children were unable to escape before firefighters arrived.
The children, identified by family members as 3-year-old Marquez Johnson and 2-year-old Amari Johnson, were found inside the burning vehicle outside a residence in Waycross, according to local authorities. Emergency crews responded after multiple 911 calls reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the parked car. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but both children were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators from the Waycross Fire Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation later began examining the vehicle and interviewing relatives and witnesses in an effort to reconstruct the events leading up to the fire.
Authorities said the vehicle was parked outside the family’s home when the fire started during the afternoon hours. Witnesses told investigators they heard screaming and saw relatives rushing toward the vehicle moments after smoke became visible. Neighbors attempted to help before firefighters arrived, but flames spread rapidly through the passenger compartment. Officials said the children were inside the car when the fire intensified, though investigators have not publicly explained how long they had been there before the blaze began. Emergency responders secured the area while investigators photographed the scene and collected debris from the vehicle’s interior. A fire department spokesperson said investigators are examining whether the fire originated in the dashboard, engine compartment or passenger area. Authorities also said they are reviewing whether mechanical failure, electrical malfunction or another factor may have contributed to the blaze.
Investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation assisted local authorities with forensic analysis as officials searched for evidence that could explain the fire’s origin. Authorities said the children’s bodies were transported to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsies. Investigators also removed sections of the burned vehicle for additional laboratory examination. Officials said no evidence of foul play had been announced, but they emphasized that the investigation remains open while experts review physical evidence and witness accounts. A spokesperson for the fire department said vehicle fires can spread within minutes, especially during warm weather conditions or when combustible materials are present inside the cabin. Authorities declined to release additional details about the family while relatives gathered near the home in the hours after the tragedy.
The deaths shocked residents in Waycross, a city of roughly 13,000 people located about 80 miles west of the Georgia coast. Neighbors described the family as quiet and close-knit, with several residents saying children often played outside in the area during the afternoons. Community members later gathered near the residence, leaving stuffed animals, candles and handwritten notes near the driveway where the vehicle had burned. Local pastors and volunteers also visited the neighborhood to support grieving relatives and nearby residents affected by the incident. Fire safety experts said child deaths in vehicle fires remain relatively uncommon compared with other residential fire incidents, but investigators often face challenges determining exact ignition sources after severe burn damage destroys evidence inside the vehicle.
Authorities said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes and speaking with neighbors who may have witnessed the moments before the fire started. Officials also are examining maintenance records connected to the vehicle to determine whether it previously experienced electrical or mechanical problems. Law enforcement officers said additional findings from the medical examiner and forensic fire analysts could take several days or weeks to complete. Investigators have not said whether criminal charges are possible because officials first must determine how the children came to be inside the vehicle and whether negligence played a role. Authorities stressed that no conclusions have been reached while the investigation remains in its early stages.
Residents continued visiting the scene Friday, where flowers and small toys remained near the burned vehicle after it was towed from the property. Several neighbors described hearing sirens and seeing smoke rise above the street before emergency crews arrived. One resident said the scene left many families in the neighborhood shaken because children regularly play outdoors nearby. Firefighters remained at the property for hours after extinguishing the blaze as investigators searched through debris and documented evidence. Community leaders said the tragedy has deeply affected residents throughout Waycross, with local churches planning memorial gatherings for the children and their family in the coming days.
The investigation into the fatal vehicle fire remained ongoing Friday as state and local officials awaited additional forensic results and autopsy findings. Authorities said more information could be released after investigators determine how the fire began and whether any criminal or accidental factors contributed to the deaths.
Author note: Last updated May 15, 2026.