Clarkesville firefighter hospitalized after apartment fire

CLARKESVILLE – A Clarkesville firefighter was admitted to Habersham Medical Center after being transported by ambulance from the scene of an apartment fire Sunday night.

Personnel from Clarkesville Fire Department, Habersham County Fire Department, and Demorest Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at an apartment building on Ed Carroll Drive, adjacent to the Habersham County Sheriff's Office property, at 9:16 p.m.

The fire damaged one apartment and resulted in the temporary evacuation of three units. Firefighters remained on scene until about 11 p.m.

Clarkesville Fire Chief Jerry Palmer said the fire was electrical in nature, with the exact cause under investigation.

"It started in the area of the panel box inside the residence," Palmer said.

Palmer said Housing Authority officials were determining late Sunday night whether to displace everyone in that building, or only those whose apartment suffered fire damage. Residents of the apartment that was damaged by fire were being house by the Housing Authority at another location.

Regarding the firefighter, Palmer said, "He was transported with heat-related illness," which was observed by Habersham Emergency Medical Services personnel during routine on-scene rehabilitation operations.

The apartment fire was the second structure fire in the county in a matter of about eight hours, and the third in 24 hours. The other consumed a home on Daniel Road near Clarkesville Sunday afternoon.

Additionally, an Alto home was damaged by fire Saturday night.

Palmer said structure fires combined with high temperatures raises the potential for firefighters to suffer heat-related illness.

"That's part of the calculated risk we take," Palmer said. "We've just got to focus on hydrant, be more vigilant about it."

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