A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition in a burn unit at Grady Memorial Hospital following a fire Sunday in Jefferson.

The teenager suffered second- and third-degree burns when a home near the Jefferson square caught fire shortly before 1 p.m., according to Jackson County EMS Director Steve Nichols.

Fire officials still are trying to determine what caused the fire that damaged the home and gave the teen critical burns on 20 to 30 percent of his upper body. They have not ruled out a kitchen accident.

Flames were shooting out of the attic area of 74 MaHaffey Circle in Jefferson when firefighters arrived around 1 p.m., according to a news release.

Two teenagers were at the scene, which Jefferson firefighter Dominic Aquila described as an older home near the Jefferson square.

Officials do not suspect arson, but the state Fire Marshal’s office and the Jefferson Police Department is assisting in the investigation because the fire resulted in an injury, Aquila said.

"There’s still a lot of questions that the Jefferson Police are handling," Aquila said.