Woman found dead inside Chatham mayor's home after fire

Fire crews received a call shortly after 2 p.m.

CHATHAM, Va. – One woman is dead and a man was injured in a fire Thursday afternoon in Chatham, according to the Chatham Police Department.

Fire crews received a call shortly after 2 p.m. that a home on Davis Road, which property records show belongs to Chatham Mayor Roy Byrd Jr., was on fire.

When firefighters arrived, they found an injured man outside the house.

Once inside, crews found the woman's body in the basement.  

Following the news that a person died in the fire, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor gathered the firefighters from Blairs, Chatham, Gretna and Cool Branch together and prayed with them. (Credit: Matt Bell/ Register & Bee)

That is where the fire is believed to have started.

The man was taken to a local hospital and later flown to U.Va. Medical Center, according to Pittsylvania County Public Safety Coordinator Chris Slemp.

The names of the victims have not been released.