An early morning house fire on Shady Lane left a home heavily damaged but, thanks to quick action by both the residents and first responders, no injuries were reported.
According to Eastanollee Fire Chief Jamey Gettys, the call came in at 12:56 a.m. after the homeowners were awakened by signs of fire in the attic. All five occupants, along with their pets, safely evacuated the house before crews arrived.
Units from Eastanollee Fire, Carnes Creek Fire Stations 1, 2, and 4, and Big Smith Fire responded to the scene, with support from Stephens County EMS and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke coming from the attic. Just minutes into the initial attack, flames broke through the roof and spread to nearly half the home. Crews acted quickly and were able to knock down the fire within an hour of arriving on scene. They remained on site for over three hours to extinguish hot spots and salvage personal belongings for the family.
The home suffered severe smoke and heat damage. While the cause remains under investigation, early reports suggest the fire may have started outside the home before moving into the attic space.
Shady Lane was shut down during the response, and drivers were urged to avoid the area. As of 2:43 a.m., the fire was reported under control and in the mop-up stage.
The American Red Cross has been contacted to assist the displaced family.
Now Habersham will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
