Toccoa Man Dies in RV Fire Monday

Tests are being conducted at the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta on the body of a Toccoa man to determine his identity after he was found in a burned out RV earlier this week.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s office, shortly after 2:30 A.M. on the morning of September 17, Big Smith Volunteer Fire Department responded to a residential fire located at 3494 Oak Valley Road, in the Toccoa RV Park.

When emergency personnel made their way inside the camper, they found the body of man they believe to be 80-year old Richard Broker, of Toccoa who lived in the RV.

Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King tells WLHR News the 27 foot camper was parked at the Toccoa RV Park when the fire occurred.

He said right now, careless smoking cannot be eliminated as the cause because the suspected victim was on oxygen and was known to be a heavy smoker.

The body of the deceased was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy and positive identification.

Due to the condition of the body, further tests are to be conducted before an exact identification is made.

Investigators with the Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office are assisting the Big Smith Volunteer Fire Department, Stephens County Coroner’s Office, and Stephens County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.

In 2019, Georgia fires have claimed the lives of 60 individuals.