Winds fuel local fires

GAINESVILLE, GA - The cold dry winds Sunday made putting out fires a challenge as both Gainesville and Hall County crews battled afternoon blazes.

The first happened around 3pm at the corner of Downey and Vine Streets, close to Northeast Georgia Medical Center's North tower. Gainesville City Chief Jerome Yarborough said the fire in the vacant commercial building took a bit longer to put out due to the wind.

Across town, Hall County fire crews responded to a home under renovation off Browns Bridge Rd. According to Chief David Kimbrell, a propane tank was involved, and the winds, along with low water pressure made for a significantly larger fire. Two houses, woods and grass, in addition to a 500 gallon propane tank had to be extinguished.

No injuries were reported in either fire, which are still under investigation.