WALKER COUNTY, Ga. — The Walker County community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of John Millican III, a dedicated teacher and coach at LaFayette High School, who died in a house fire early Sunday morning while his family struggles with injuries.
According to authorities, dispatchers received a call around 7:38 a.m. reporting smoke inside a home on Ridgewood Circle. Firefighters arrived nine minutes later to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the front of the residence.
Fire officials said Heather Millican, a Social Studies teacher at LaFayette Middle School, and their two children, ages 3 and 8, were able to escape the house. However, John Millican was trapped inside. Firefighters conducted a search and rescue operation and found him unconscious in a back bedroom. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.
Heather Millican and the children are being treated at Vanderbilt Burn Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Walker County Schools called the loss of John Millican a heartbreaking tragedy felt across the entire school community, emphasizing the impact on students, staff, and colleagues. Counselors and school social workers have been made available to support those affected during this difficult time.
John Millican was widely known not only for his work as a teacher and coach but also for his passion and dedication to students. A spokesperson for Dade County Cross Country and Track & Field shared that Millican volunteered faithfully and worked tirelessly to help grow the program, leaving a lasting legacy on every student he mentored.
The house was completely destroyed, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Walker County Fire Marshal Scott Forrest.
The community is rallying around the Millican family, offering thoughts, prayers, and support as they recover from this devastating event.
Gone too soon, but forever remembered — John Millican’s dedication, kindness, and passion for teaching and coaching will leave a lasting impact on all who knew him.