Several Habersham departments respond to kitchen fire

CORNELIA – Firefighters from three Habersham County fire stations responded to a reported structure fire about a mile from Walmart in Cornelia Thursday afternoon.

“We were paged out about 12:10 to this residential fire,” said Habersham County Fire Chief Jeff Cain. “Our first units got on scene and had a little light smoke showing from the A side [front] of the structure. Once we got crews together, got them inside, it was obvious we had a kitchen fire that had gotten out of control.”

The fire was at a two-story, wood-frame home at 501 Camp Creek Circle off Locke Road.

“There was no structural damage to the residence,” Cain said. “You’re going to have smoke in both levels – pretty bad smoke damage, but there was no extension from the first floor to the second floor, as far as the fire goes.”

Firefighters were able to limit damage to the home.

“Most of your damage is going to be cosmetic – sheetrock, furnishings, and stuff like that,” Cain said. “I don’t believe there’s going to be any structural damage to the residence.”

Habersham County Station 12 (View) and Station 14 (Glade Creek) responded, along with personnel from Station 24 (Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department).

“We had a third engine from 13 (Habersham) here,” Cain said. “It wasn’t needed, but we sent them due to lack of hydrants in the area.”

There were no injuries. A man staying at the home was asleep outside at the time of the fire, Cain said.

“When he woke up, he realized he had forgotten the stuff on the stove, and it extended and done significant damage to the kitchen area, but no structural damage,” Cain said.

The name of the homeowner, who was out of town at the time of the fire, was not available at the scene.