Following an all night examination of the remains of a Matthews Road home, 5-year-old Sara Michelle Buffton was found in the den of her family’s home.
The fire at 607 Matthews Road totally destroyed the three-story residence. Six people were in the home at the time of the fire, however, the other five were able to escape.
Fire departments from Pike Road, Rolling Hills, South Montgomery County, North Montgomery County and Snowdoun were joined by the Montgomery County Search and Rescue Squad, Haynes Ambulance Service, Swearingen Construction Company and the State Fire Marshals Office in the search for the child. At one point nearly one hundred firefighters and rescue personnel were involved in the search.
The fire is believed to have originated in the den and is suspected of having been centered in the area of the Christmas tree. This portion of the investigation is continuing by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshals Office.